The Forestmen were one the various factions of the Castle theme and were introduced in 1987. With only seven sets, it was the smallest of the Castle themes. It was discontinued after 1990.
The faction was introduced in 1987 when the set 6066 Camouflaged Outpost was released. This set already included the forestman leader and the iconic forestman hats made their debut as well. In 1988 the brown shield with green background and a stag's head on it was introduced as the symbol of the forestmen.
Until the end of 1990, nine sets with forestman appearances were released, including various hideouts and fortifications as well as simple carts. The biggest set was 6077 Forestmen's River Fortress, from 1989, which also featured the only guest appearance of another faction in this theme by including a soldier of the Crusaders. More evidence for an antagonistic relationship between these two parties was delivered by the appearance of a forestman as a prisoner in the Crusaders set 6042 Dungeon Hunters.
The theme had a shortlived revival in 1996, when Dark Forest was introduced, which made use of the same crest as the forestmen. Its sets also involved woodland hideouts built into hollow trees or rocks and some of the minifigures also featured green tunics and forestman hats.
The backstory of the Forestmen was never set in stone. Most of it is extrapolated from the various catalogues of the theme. What is known is that they were the rebel outcasts of the group, and often targeted the Crusader treasure wagons and often engaged the Black Falcon forces.
Sometime after the Old Kingdom fell and the lands were invaded by the Black Falcons, there were those in the land that found that there was no place for them in the new regime. So they took whatever they had and fled to the forest.
Their leader, some say it was Robin Hood but no official name was given to him, saw to the construction of several hidden fortresses, using the trees as the basis of the construction. In a few short years they constructed a formidable network of tree dwellings.
When the Black Knights invaded, the Forestmen joined forces with the Crusaders and Black Falcons to fight off the new enemy. Unfortunately, the Crusaders and Black Falcons were defeated, and most Forestmen fled the land. Some however, stayed to become two other factions, the Wolfpack and the Dark Forest.
Dark Forest was a shortlived Castle subtheme and consisted of only three sets released in 1996. The sets were not featured in European catalogues but were nevertheless available at some shops.
Dark Forest can be seen as a revival of the older Forestmen theme which was phased out after 1990. It reused the same crest that had already been established for the forestmen in 1987 and its sets also involved woodland hideouts built into hollow trees or rocks. Some Dark Forest minifigures also featured green tunics and forestman hats. But all in all the minifigures offered a greater variety by using different torso pieces and also hoods.
Other factions that appear in Dark Forest sets were the Royal Knights and a mixture of Black Knights and Dragon Masters.
Some minifigures that appear in the Fright Knights theme from 1997 bear a striking similarity to some from Dark Forest.
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I had 6024 and this is most impressive.
Your video reminds me of it.
Thanks!
PotatoesAndWater 2 weeks ago
0:53 i have him! but he is a magnet and idk how to take him out of the stand :(
nightraiderfilms 1 month ago
The smallest castle subtheme was Wolfpack with only 3 sets!
LegoBrickfilmer23 2 months ago in playlist Lego Classics
I need a lego forestmen set!
Where can I get 6066?
megadeth467 2 months ago
back to the days when the face are just 2 dots and one curve nothing else
FrozenFlamePSPGuide 7 months ago
i got 6071from bricklink today. some of the pieces have been, sadly, replaced
Gamecreator916 1 year ago
The forestmen were the coolest idea of the entire castle theme. When they were around, it was Robin Hood Vs. the falcon knights (prince John), and the red knights (crusaders?) were most likely king Richards returning forces.
After the forestmen were gone, it was just faceless, dull knights without any backstory Vs. each other.
Noone ever liked the raiders for some reason. They should have continued with Robin Hoods forestmen.
sigmaree 1 year ago 2
2:05 ROB N HOOD
Arzaker 1 year ago
nice to see that all again....i still have my lego men on the attic in big box but just to old to reassemble
virus55555 1 year ago
anybody know what this song is called?
Gamecreator916 1 year ago