PlaymoFriends
General => Report & Review => Topic started by: Richard on September 07, 2008, 17:21:27
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5841 ROMAN CAMP
This is another set that I almost didn't buy!
It looks very similar to the Viking Starter set 5707/3137. Actually, the small forts are exactly the same except for the colors/colours.
The base of the Viking set is grass green and the base of the Roman set is sand tan.
The Roman fort does not have a "rock framed" entrance like the Viking fort.
However, some of the other accessories are the same ... such as the little tree.
Even though I have the Viking set, it seemed to me that a sand base Roman fort might offer some different scenic possibilities. Also, the Klickys in set 5841 (although not unique) are very nice figures. So, I'm glad I decided to buy it.
NOTE: The Viking Starter set images were borrowed from Bart's Collectobil (http://www.collectobil.com/) and Heather's PlamoDB (http://www.playmodb.org/). (IMO, two of the greatest Playmobil websites on the World-wide Interweb!) All other images are original.
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Continued ...
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Rasputin suggested that the new "Take-Along" sets could easily be disassembled ... Click HERE (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2555.msg28901#msg28901).
Following Rasputin's excellent instructions, we inserted the small flat bladed screwdriver in the side tab slot. And, just as Rasputin said, " ... the rear plate will release."
The first image shows the disassembled Take Along set 4774 (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2553.msg28867#msg28867).
The next two images show the combination of sets 5841 and 4774.
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Richard, thanks for the review and the pictures! Although I personally probably won't be buying this set, I think it is a great set for children (I guess they too buy Playmobil ;)), people who want to "try out" the Roman theme, and people who only want a few Romans in their collections.
The greatness in this set lies in its playability, its diversity, its expandability, and its value. I like that you get the three primary types of Roman klickies (legionary, auxiliary, and centurion), a standard, a scorpion ballista, two "barbarians" (Gauls, Celts, Germans, Dacians, or whatever you wish) and a small fortlet that can be utilized by either the Romans or the Barbarians. This set makes for some great scenarios: the "barbarians" could suddenly ambush this small Roman outpost or the Romans could lay siege with their ballista to these last surviving brave "barbarians." With a few add-on sets of Gauls, Roman legionaries, Roman auxiliaries, and maybe a Roman Tribune, one could even have a battle of medium scale with this set for around $50!
The set, however, isn't perfect in my opinion. First, while I like that Playmobil has done away with the ridiculous looking rocky arch from the Viking Super Set and saved themselves some money in the process, they should have left the base green, especially since "barbarians" are present. This color change was a very poor choice. Second, they should have included an auxiliary shield for the auxiliary soldier and they also should have given him sandals rather than greaves. (At least they got his helmet right, unlike in the auxiliary add-on pack!) Also, they should have included two regular spears, one for the auxiliary soldier and one for one of the "barbarians." These small criticisms aside, however, I think this is a great set! If I didn't already have multiples of all these klickies and one Viking Super Set, I'd be tempted.
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5841 ROMAN CAMP
This is another set that I almost didn't buy!
Hi Richard!
:wave:
Might I ask ... Why? ???
The set, however, isn't perfect in my opinion.
You should laugh at this, Justindo, and possibly not give yourself the work of thinking an answer, but
What's your perfect set? ... Is there any??!
(Please, remember LAUGHing!)
@ Richard
Thanks, Richard, for the review. This Roman set combined with the take-along barbarian [ "barbarian" *] quite might make me rethink my priorities ... 8}
:-* on your foreheads
Gus
:blackhair:
[*I dislike the Playmobil concept of this word ... I'll rather have the Roman one, derived from the Greek one: "everyone who isn't Roman is Barbarian". Actually, Greek word bárbaros, -e, -on refers to "people that speak a language that we, Greeks, can't understand and, therefore, sounds like yada-yada" (Greek bar-bar-bar, Portuguese blá-blá-blá ...).]
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Thanks for your comments, Justindo.
And, I just realized that I had forgotten to report that the cost of this set is $19.99 at Target.
The only thing that I would probably disagree with you about is the color of the base. Since Playmobil had already made this small fort in green, I was very happy to see that they had made one in tan for a more desert-like environment (even though green would have been a bit more accurate for a Gaulish locale).
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Gus ...
Might I ask ... Why? ???
The reason that I almost didn't buy this set was because I already had the Viking starter set. I also had all the Klickys that were included with this set. In other words, there wasn't much, if anything, that was really very new about this set. But, as I continued looking at it, I started thinking about the scenic possibilities of a sand tan base and I really liked the Klickys and their accessories. Now that I own this set, and the more I look at it, the happier I am that I made the decision to buy it!
All the best,
Richard
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I'm glad you bought it! :)
Is it the same kind of ground than the Viking one?
I agree that it's very useful to have a ground that colour, specially with the coming of the Egyptian theme ... I'm sure every playmo "Romanist" will soon agree ;D
Gus
:blackhair:
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Is this the first time that color sand has been used ? I seem to not be-able to find any that match . I guess i would rather have it at least match other sets and not have a whole new sand color tone .
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The only thing that I would probably disagree with you about is the color of the base. Since Playmobil had already made this small fort in green, I was very happy to see that they had made one in tan for a more desert-like environment (even though green would have been a bit more accurate for a Gaulish locale).
In theory, I agree that it's nice to have a different colored base as an option, but grey rocks, a timber palisade, green trees and plants, and sandy ground don't go together, as such a place would never exist in reality. Had Playmobil slightly modified the sandy colored base and used tan rocks with tan stone walls and no plants or trees, I'd be thrilled and would eagerly buy one or two to put the upcoming Egyptians or past Arabs in it to fight my Romans.
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What's your perfect set? ... Is there any??!
(Please, remember LAUGHing!)[/b]
Gus, I think the rest of Justindo's paragraph was the answer to your question!
I agree with Justindo, make those changes and you're getting close to a perfect set. I would add that the Centurion should have a Centurion's transverse crest. Given those changes, this set would be perfect, for what it is. I probably still won't buy it, because I have the Viking starter set and 250-300 other Romans, but if you only have a handful (or none) and want to start, this is a good starter set, at a very nice price.
I'm suprised they didn't make more of the secret hidey hole in the rocks. If I were a barbarian, and the Romans built a camp next to my ancestral burial tomb, I'd be somewhat aggrieved too.
bar-bar-bar Barbarian
bar-bar-bar Barbarian
Oh Barbarian,
Please take my hand...Oh Barbarian, take my hand
bar Barbarian
You got me rockin and a-rollin
Rockin and a-reelin
Barbarian
etc.
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I would add that the Centurion should have a Centurion's transverse crest.
Thanks Martin! I missed that completely!
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I would add that the Centurion should have a Centurion's transverse crest.
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Thanks Martin! I missed that completely!
It's hopeless!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:
P.s.: Where's the "Barbarbarbarbarian Song" from, Martin? ... 8} I'm no native speaker ... 'Never heard it!
Gus
:blackhair:
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bar-bar-bar Barbarian
bar-bar-bar Barbarian
Oh Barbarian,
Please take my hand...Oh Barbarian, take my hand
bar Barbarian
You got me rockin and a-rollin
Rockin and a-reelin
Barbarian
etc.
Beach Boys! Oh, thanks for implanting that into my brain... must go sing something else, loudly...
Re: Centurion's crest: the score for this guy (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30%2000%202702) is 4 appearances with a tranverse crest vs. 2 with front-to-back; his add-on, 7877, is labeled "Centurion". So much for historical accuracy or at least consistency (like I ever had any hope of THAT).
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Re: Centurion's crest: the score for this guy (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30%2000%202702) is 4 appearances with a tranverse crest vs. 2 with front-to-back; his add-on, 7877, is labeled "Centurion". So much for historical accuracy or at least consistency (like I ever had any hope of THAT).
I'd forgotten about the catapult guy, I think my siege weapons unit will still have this guy in charge. So far we've only got red and white transverse crests available, but a lot more options for front-to-back.
I'd like Playmo to do a gold (bronze) version of the plain helmet too, it would be useful for many figures.
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I use the centurion klicky with the yellow front to back crest for both my cavalry decurions and my auxiliary centurions. My legionary centurion klickies use red transverse crests while my Praetorian centurion klickies use white transverse crests.
I agree that gold/bronze regular helmets would be useful for diversity in an imperial legion and if one wanted to create a Republican legion with bronze helmets. That said, many legionaries in both the republican and imperial period silvered their bronze helmets so they would appear as iron ones.
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Hey the sandy, Syrian fort does have one realistic detail--
The "treasure pit" makes an acceptable shallow grave for political malefactors.
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[*I dislike the Playmobil concept of this word ... I'll rather have the Roman one, derived from the Greek one: "everyone who isn't Roman is Barbarian". Actually, Greek word bárbaros, -e, -on refers to "people that speak a language that we, Greeks, can't understand and, therefore, sounds like yada-yada" (Greek bar-bar-bar, Portuguese blá-blá-blá ...).]
Hey Gus, when the Greeks called outsiders "jabber-jabber-ers", they didn't intend that as a term of endearment.
I suspect that the Greeks would not entirely have disapproved of Playmobil's interpretation of the term.
-Tim
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I use the centurion klicky with the yellow front to back crest for both my cavalry decurions and my auxiliary centurions. My legionary centurion klickies use red transverse crests while my Praetorian centurion klickies use white transverse crests.
I agree that gold/bronze regular helmets would be useful for diversity in an imperial legion and if one wanted to create a Republican legion with bronze helmets. That said, many legionaries in both the republican and imperial period silvered their bronze helmets so they would appear as iron ones.
I've used red transverse crests for all legionary centurions, and white for everyone else including the Praetorian Century. I have four legionary centuries, so I've designated them 1st to 4th, and the 1st officers get gold helmets.
In Osprey books I have bronze helmets appear as late as the 1st and 2nd century AD in the various colour illustrations. At least they look bronze-d. Some helmets appear to be a mix, with some bronze and some iron pieces.
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I've used red transverse crests for all legionary centurions, and white for everyone else including the Praetorian Century. I have four legionary centuries, so I've designated them 1st to 4th, and the 1st officers get gold helmets.
In Osprey books I have bronze helmets appear as late as the 1st and 2nd century AD in the various colour illustrations. At least they look bronze-d. Some helmets appear to be a mix, with some bronze and some iron pieces.
Be sure to read the captions with the illustrations.
In my "Roman Auxiliary Cavalry" the Gallic auxiliaries are drawn in what the author believed were parade costumes, but which the artist depicted as if on campaign.
It's a little quirky when Osprey writers pick nits (often) with their artists. I wonder how closely the author gets to work with the writer.
-Tim
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Hey Gus, when the Greeks called outsiders "jabber-jabber-ers", they didn't intend that as a term of endearment.
I suspect that the Greeks would not entirely have disapproved of Playmobil's interpretation of the term.
-Tim
You said it all, Tim: not entirely
Only part of them, therefore ;D I'm with this part(y).
Gus
:blackhair:
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You said it all, Tim: Only part of them, therefore ;D I'm with this part(y).
Gus
:blackhair:
Speak your mind, Gus. This wishy-washy round-about speaking is, well, round-about and wishy-washy.
Recap:
I regarded your insertion of the etymology behind the word "barbarian" to be a non-sequitor, on the grounds that "barbarian" didn't mean "foreign" like our neutral English term, but meant "one of those outsiders who speaks all that jabber-jabber".
People associated with speaking gibberish tend not to be associated with being intelligent or civilized (note how we Americans like to imitate Chinese by saying "wah-wah" or "me no need washy-washy"). Additionally, considering how insular those ancient cultures were (and our modern cultures still are), I think we're making a safe assumption that "barbarian" even to the Greeks, more or less meant "less civilized, less smart, and not us."
Your employment of etymological context was more interesting than relevant to your statement.
-Tim
-Tim
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Recap:
I regarded your insertion of the etymology behind the word "barbarian" to be a non-sequitor, on the grounds that "barbarian" didn't mean "foreign" like our neutral English term, but meant "one of those outsiders who speaks all that jabber-jabber". 1
People associated with speaking gibberish tend not to be associated with being intelligent or civilized (note how we Americans like to imitate Chinese by saying "wah-wah" or "me no need washy-washy"). Additionally, considering how insular those ancient cultures were (and our modern cultures still are), I think we're making a safe assumption that "barbarian" even to the Greeks, more or less meant "less civilized, less smart, and not us." 2
On 1. The Playmobil use, I understood, was "barbarian" for "ancient Russians" (?)*, pushed by "Hunos" into Europe (...). Why not to call them by the right name, after all? Anyway, "for children", in an imaginary designer's though, "these guys will be ... uh ... Barbarians!" (And people around thought "yes, yes, good, good", and nodded ...)
Unfortunately, those aren't common "Barbarians" ... To call them so is a bit ... pushy (is it a word?).
On 2. The general idea is that, for Greeks and for Romans, by inheritance, "Barbarians" meant "less civilized", and "not us" (because "they speak nothing we Romans can understant and they don't speak Greek, which us, Romans, respect"**) ...
Even so, there would be those who'd think "oh no, because they don't speak Latin or Greek, it doesn't mean they can't be a valuable, hounorable or cunning people! ..." One of the things I tried to remark was that, even then, both opinions would live together ... As usual, and of course.
Anyway, you took the general idea, Tim. Only, when I said that, to me, "Barbarians" is "not us", I'm defending the primary etymological concept ... In a way, although I can speak a bit of English, I'm not you, English speakers ... I'm very Barbarian myself! I dress a reasonably efficient disguise ;)
Gus
:blackhair:
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*Needs research, I'm not speaking with background, nor am I payed to do so (...) ;D
::)
:hmm:
**M. Tullius Cicero did say that Rome should carefully continue the steps of Greece in civilizing the world (...), of course, not in these words.
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are there any plans for releasing this set in Europe? With the sand base, it might be useful for a trench?
TT
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Hi Richard,
thx for the pictures and review !!
:wow:
world greets
Andi
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:yup: i just found this new set of romans on sale on the target.com website
apparently it is only available in target stores in the us. :'(
:-[ i have to confess i find the roman playmo-family great.
maybe if, one day, the pirates are taken out from production, i will turn into romans.
:hmm: i thought this would never happen but, looking at the recent afican pirates' attacks on ships, maybe the playmo-pirates could be considered a "dangerous" option in toys.
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You'd better be quick, looks like they might go the way of the Vikings in a couple of years from what we've been told.
This is a great starter set and display piece, but I have all the figures so there's nothing I'd want here.
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:hmm: i thought this would never happen but, looking at the recent afican pirates' attacks on ships, maybe the playmo-pirates could be considered a "dangerous" option in toys.[/font]
Somali pirates, so I am told, don't say "Shiver me timbers."
But, yeah, didn't Malaysia ban PM's pirate theme?
But I would starting fretting yet, Cachalote. When you consider PM makes "bank robber" toys (a felony in the USA), the souls of politically correct children may find themselves under increasing temptation from the pirate theme.
-Tim
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OK...!! :love: :D
That's great !