The UN-official LEGO set based on Roman Gladiator games.
About this creation
Visit my website at www.saber-scorpion.com!
I am aware that LEGO does not like for their official logo to be used on anything they are not affiliated with, so let me make this especially clear:
THESE ARE NOT REAL LEGO SETS AND CANNOT BE PURCHASED ANYWHERE. THIS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE LEGO COMPANY IN ANY WAY.
If, however, the LEGO Group has any plans to produce a line like this, I would appreciate it if they would e-mail me (justin@saber-scorpion.com) so that I could pitch in and help. I'd love to work for LEGO. :\
My readers probably think I'm crazy for saying all that stuff, but a rather creepy thing happened to me one time. A long time ago, when I was an active member of FBTB, a bunch of guys made a project there in which each of them would make up their own fake LEGO line, based in a different time period. I offered to do the Castle line. A few weeks later, I posted pictures of my series. There were two factions in my fake series. The goodguys wore blue and gold. Their emblem was an eagle. Their castles were grey. The badguys wore black and red. Their emblem was a scorpion. Their castles were black. Starting to sound familiar yet?! It should. A while after that, LEGO came out with the Knights Kingdom serise, which featured the goodguys, who mostly wore blue (except the Power Ranger Knights of course), and the blue knight had a GOLDEN EAGLE as his emblem. And guess what? The badguys were red and black and used a scorpion as their emblem.
Coincidence? Perhaps, but if it is, it's a very creepy one, and it's not the first time something like this has happened. So I'm not taking any chances. LEGO Company: if you'd like to make a line like this, that's great, but can I help?!?! PLEASE?!?!?!
Anyway, enough rambling. Now that I've got you guys laughing at me, I'll move along to the important stuff...
When LEGO came out with the Vikings line, I was ecstatic! I love Norse Mythology and the Vikings, and despite the sets' overuse of Bionicle pieces, I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. The minifigs were awesome, especially the new helmets. Unfortunately there weren't enough sets for my tastes. I especially wanted some more mythological minifigs. Like a valkyrie. I have an obsession with valkyries.
So I thought: "Wouldn't it be cool if LEGO made two opposing lines, the Vikings and the Romans?" I know that the Vikings and Romans might not have actually fought each other historically, but the Romans did have a lot of trouble with barbarians from the North, and the Vikings are as good a representation as any. Anyway, then there was a contest held on my website forums for "best unofficial LEGO set." I figured I might as well go ahead and do it myself.

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This is the first of the potential series of sets, LEGO Romans, called "Gladiator vs. Minotaur" (in the spirit of the Vikings line). Notice the logo? Since the Vikings line used the Viking helmet as the "V" in their logo, I decided to use the Roman centurion helmet as the "R" in my Romans logo. To my astonishment, it actually worked!
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Here is the photo I used on the box. I tried to get an action scene like LEGO usually does. There really are 102 pieces in this set, if I counted right. I was aiming for a $10.00 MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price), and they usually include around 100 pieces, if I'm right.
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I chose a minotaur as the opponent for two reasons: The Vikings only fought monsters in the Vikings line, because violence between people is something LEGO tries to avoid, I think. Also, most small sets this size only include two minifigs at most, so I didn't want to put in two gladiators.
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Here is the Emperor's Box Seat. It's colorful and not too terribly realistic (would the Emperor ever be this close to the battle? No), just like a real LEGO set!
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The Emperor investigates his chair. He senses something is amiss, but he can't quite put his finger on it. Can you find it?
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The Emperor is a really simple minifig. Ideally, he would have a laurel crown thing, but I didn't want to make the face decal.
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The back of the seat. It was a pain to count all the pieces. It makes me reluctant to make any larger sets.
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The Minotaur is based partially on the appearance of the minotaurs in the game Gladius. It's a really stupid and corny game, but for some reason I enjoyed it a little bit. I know the head isn't great, but if this was a real LEGO set, LEGO would probably mold a totally new piece for the head, which is something I can't do.
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Here's the gladiator. I was searching through my LEGO minifig box looking for yellow legs, and then I struck upon the legs for my oooold Bossk minifig. They were the only yellow legs I could find, so I took off the decals and started scratching off the paint. But then I realized that it actually looked something like a sandal, so I left it.
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The Emperor watches the fighters step out onto the field, giving the audience a chance to view their back decals.
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The fight begins, but the gladiator appears to be doing something tricky. (Check this out! I could even design silly comics for the LEGO website! Ha!)
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The gladiator has apparently seen a certain Bugs Bunny cartoon. *NOTE: the red cape and anvil, are, natrually, not included in the "set."
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Like all big muscular beasts, the minotaur is stupid, so he tosses down his axe and prepares to charge.
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One thing about LEGO sets: they almost always include some silly "play" feature that is little more than annoying to more mature builders. But hey, I'm trying to make this like a real set, so here we go...
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The minotaur pulls the bottom of the seat out, and down comes the Emperor!
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CLANG! The plan worked... the minotaur is down! Victory!
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Um, maybe.
"You there! Gladiator! You will now face in a... special honorary fight to celebrate your victory!"
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More people that are not included in the "set." I just built these for fun. I might include them in a larger "set" if I ever actually make any more.
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Comments
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I like it |
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February 19, 2012 |
You should make more. And I love the feature where the emperor falls out of his throne! Also, have you checked out the new Lego Minifigures. They come with a Roman Soldier. |
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I like it |
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April 14, 2011 |
Very cool!
If it was a lego set, I'd buy it! |
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I like it |
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November 24, 2010 |
Very good, I remember my first time viewing this on your site along with the rest of your creations.
@Lego lord: Actually the minotaur is in Roman mythology; Roman mythology is Greek mythology, just with different names and not including some of the gods and heroes. Despite that, you're comment was rude and uncalled for. Whatever. |
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You are not understanding something here. You are getting Roman mythology mixed up with Greek mythology. Minotaurs are part of Greek Mythology.
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The model is not too good, first of all Minotaurs are part of Greek mythology, not Roman mythology. The design of the set isn't too great either. Though, I do like the idea for this theme, excepts Greek mythology instead of Roman mythology, because Greek mythology has way more monsters. |
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I like it |
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August 31, 2010 |
best of the best ive seen your website its awsome im thinking ABOUT BUYING SOME OF YOUR DECALS |
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I like it |
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April 29, 2010 |
I like it as well. However, the minator could be better.....Hey wait.. I've been to your site. It showed up on an image result and i've been sucked into it ever since. P.S. you rule at making lego minifigs. See Yaas |
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I like it |
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April 23, 2010 |
Cool, 5/5. |
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I like it |
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February 10, 2010 |
I really like it. However, I wish you rather included like 5 minifigs. Maybe 3-4 gladiotors against the minotaur would still be fair. In Drawbridge Defense, which is my only set since 11 years, there are 7 minifigs! And I think you should've made like an arena background because grayscale is depressive. I know its long to take off the background and stuff, but that's what lego would do. |
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I like it |
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November 3, 2009 |
I like this, though more for the thought and potential than the "boxed set" (I, being somewhat of a perfectionist, always combined my sets into something more than what came in the box). Nevertheless, I've had the thought that LEGO needed a "Romans" line of products for some time. I even remember building gladiatorial arenas when I was younger, complete with a "dungeon-level" for the fighters and beasts. |
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I like it |
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September 21, 2009 |
I also know these moments when Lego sells something, i already build months before, hehe. The monotaur is very good and a ancient or mythology based theme would be cool. |
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I like it |
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August 19, 2009 |
im gonna ask the lego group to let you join and if they see your customs they'll ask you for sure |
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id be suprised if the the lego company didn't beg you to join the lego group... if you were in the the lego group you would be famous for your awesomeness. |
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I like it |
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July 11, 2009 |
I like it |
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I like it |
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November 30, 2008 |
GREAT! |
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I like it |
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May 11, 2008 |
Cool!
I'm surprised lego hasn't actually tried to hire you yet!
P.S.
is everything floating on the "box" picture? |
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Minotaur's body is not so good, head's ok though (i guess) |
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I like it |
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September 5, 2007 |
It's always good to set your goals high. >.> I sound like a teacher...oh no! Great creation anyways. |
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I like it |
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May 1, 2007 |
The box art is spot on ;) I also like the idea as a theme too, but the minotaur is the real winner for me. Great stuff |
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I like it |
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April 18, 2007 |
Ever consider making a Diorama or something based off 300?
"This is MADNESS!"
"Madness?"
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"THIS... IS... LEGO!!!!!" |
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I like it |
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April 16, 2007 |
I think this is the one of the best lego sets ever and the character are realy cool. I like what you have done here, it's a nice piece of art. |
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I like it |
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November 28, 2006 |
You amaze me once again, scorp. Alot like an actual set, and the minifigs rock too. Only real problem is the fact that the minotuar has a helm from the Conquistadores. Great work, I'd like to see some more Roman figs! |
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I like it |
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November 9, 2006 |
brilliant amazing great BEST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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I like it |
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October 14, 2006 |
This Is very Good, However I do not like the lego head you chose for the blue gladiator looks like some guy named bull dozer bob. and the murmillo is a girl, murmillos dont have shirts, its like the whole weird Veracs armor on girls if you know what I mean, www.runescape.com/barrows |
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I like it |
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July 15, 2006 |
Scorp, I must admit, you did a fantastic job playing as the LEGO company. The Minotaur looks amazing. The Emporer's thrown is also pretty nice. |
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I like it |
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April 23, 2006 |
Excellent choice of subject matter. I can only hope Lego will one day broaden their range of historical themed sets to include things like this. The figures almost look like they were factory produced (same w/ your box art). Pretty cool how you even got the one gladiator to look like he's wearing sandals. That's a great minotaur there too. Very clever how you used the conquistador helmet for part of the head. Think you'd be able to craft a Medussa? |
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I like it |
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March 17, 2006 |
Very cool, that would make a great set. |
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I like it |
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March 14, 2006 |
Neato, awsome, great, junk like that. Anyway, I can just see a future MOC of yours... a colloseum with a cheering audience... A throne with the Emperor and Empress sitting and enjoying the attention... Today, there will be a chariot race! And they're off, with Ben-Hur in the lead! (hee hee) |
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I like it |
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February 22, 2006 |
I love it, I love it, I love it!
Good job Scorpy I really like it, it just looks awsome!
(err, did used Rassy's head on purpose, I'll gues no) |
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I like it |
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February 22, 2006 |
Wow! I think this is a really superb idea that LEGO should listen to. I look forward to seeing more sets in this range.
I reaaly liked the random, included funtion and similariety to a real set. I commend you on that, for some of your best work. I love the realistic box-art. |
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I like it |
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February 22, 2006 |
Sweet, I would buy quite a few if they were offical. |
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I like it |
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February 22, 2006 |
UN-OFFICIAL??? THIS GUY IS CRAZY!!!! |
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I like it |
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February 22, 2006 |
This is pretty nifty. It definatley resembles a **lame** official lego set. I would buy it, only for the pieces. I would much rather buy a larger gladiator set though. hm. Keep making them. I like the Minotaur head design. I think I might try that for a minotaur of mine, if you dont mind, but most likely it wont go up on mocpages. ok. Keep up the sweet action mocs, Justin Scorp,~~Willard |
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I like it |
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February 21, 2006 |
Congragulations Scorp! You actually made a MOC again! This looks very much like an official set. Could you tell me again how you erased the background and put the "official" LEGO background on it? |
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I like it |
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February 21, 2006 |
This is so AMAZING!!!!!! do you have instructions? Can I get the decals? check out my mocs! |
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I like it |
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February 21, 2006 |
You should give that idea to LEGO. Maybe they would put out a line of Roman sets. Awesome!!! |
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More from Justin More across MOCpages
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