Lord of the Rings Ongoing Discussion

[MAB]

2 hours ago, Balrogofmorgoth said:

No one can convince me there isn’t a young audience for it. It’s a false assumption on the part of lego. I have kids who love it and know plenty of other piers whose kids love it. Especially with Rings of Power out now. And even the ones that don’t know the LOTR franchise very well love forts and dragons and creatures and sword fights and bows and arrows and horses, etc. It’s a slam dunk right now, and a missed opportunity 

Sure there is child demand for LOTR, but that demand is very low compared to Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Ninjago, Dreamzzz, etc. LEGO don't know or care about individual circumstances. But their market research will tell them that children in general are not interested to make it worthwhile for them to do LOTR playsets. And given how little LOTR and The Hobbit merchandise is available on toy store shelves currently, it seems most other toy companies agree.

[RichardGoring]

1 hour ago, hikouki said:

I am hoping that the Balrog build will be substantial. I do wonder if they will include other minifigs other than Gandalf?

As do I, although at $120, if they are doing solid sides for the book nook, then a lot of the piece count will be in the structure, and it can't be too big as it will require a larger structure. If they do a cutaway wall on both sides, it frees up a lot more budget for it to be bigger.

[brimbolet]

4 minutes ago, MAB said:

Sure there is child demand for LOTR, but that demand is very low compared to Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Ninjago, Dreamzzz, etc. LEGO don't know or care about individual circumstances. But their market research will tell them that children in general are not interested to make it worthwhile for them to do LOTR playsets. And given how little LOTR and The Hobbit merchandise is available on toy store shelves currently, it seems most other toy companies agree.

I'm still convinced that the complicated license agreements between the various owners, Amazon, etc... are the reason for the overall lack of LOTR merchandise - especially now with a brand new ROP series! If nobody is allowed to make products, there won't be a demand obviously. Kids are easily excited when it comes to new cool things. And dragons, knights and creepy creatures are very cool - just like dinosaurs.

Btw. I've been at the Lego store for 2 hours on black friday - big crowds and nobody was buying Dreamzzz.

[Yoggington]

12 hours ago, Artanis I said:

If the balrog is somewhat to system scale, I shall not pass.

Well I laughed, for one.

[Lordhelmet]

3 hours ago, Balrogofmorgoth said:

No one can convince me there isn’t a young audience for it. It’s a false assumption on the part of lego. I have kids who love it and know plenty of other piers whose kids love it. Especially with Rings of Power out now. And even the ones that don’t know the LOTR franchise very well love forts and dragons and creatures and sword fights and bows and arrows and horses, etc. It’s a slam dunk right now, and a missed opportunity 

100% agree, my kids like it,  and friends kids, and family members kids all like it.  (Plus all the AFOLS)  If there were affordable lego sets they would buy them.  I think Lego is missing out on easy sales, especially around a movie this year and another one in two years.  I don't think it has to be a big theme, but 3-5 sets a year would be an easy win for everyone.

[MAB]

10 hours ago, brimbolet said:

Btw. I've been at the Lego store for 2 hours on black friday - big crowds and nobody was buying Dreamzzz.

Black Friday in the LEGO store is probably not the time or place for regular kids sets. BF seems to be an adult event, a time to buy exclusive larger sets with discounts. Dreamzzz seems to do reasonably well, as well as other in-house themes, in regular toy stores and supermarkets. I wouldn't buy full price non-exclusive Dreamzzz sets to get BF offers when they can be bought from other stores with routine discounts like many other sets.

10 hours ago, brimbolet said:

I'm still convinced that the complicated license agreements between the various owners, Amazon, etc... are the reason for the overall lack of LOTR merchandise - especially now with a brand new ROP series! If nobody is allowed to make products, there won't be a demand obviously. 

How much child aimed LOTR merchandise was on the shelves before Amazon did ROP? Outside of when movies were current, I cannot really remember any toys. There were the action figures when both LOTR and the Hobbit movies were current and no doubt kids had them at the time. There has been more grown up merchandise such as mugs, T-shirts, and grown up collectables like statuettes. Funko did LOTR figures but I'm not convinced they are toys. I don't think ROP is keeping other Middle Earth toys off the shelves. If anything the ROP audience has been shown to be on the older side and so may reinforce the idea that the majority of kids are not into the franchise.

[brimbolet]

First pictures of HP 76447 Hogwarts Castle Flying Lessons are out... now something like that for Gondor please!

[THELEGOBATMAN]

8 minutes ago, brimbolet said:

First pictures of HP 76447 Hogwarts Castle Flying Lessons are out... now something like that for Gondor please!

That'll be 370€ please.

[Black Falcon]

On 12/1/2024 at 8:12 PM, Balrogofmorgoth said:

No one can convince me there isn’t a young audience for it. It’s a false assumption on the part of lego. I have kids who love it and know plenty of other piers whose kids love it. Especially with Rings of Power out now. And even the ones that don’t know the LOTR franchise very well love forts and dragons and creatures and sword fights and bows and arrows and horses, etc. It’s a slam dunk right now, and a missed opportunity 

There surely is, but probably not big enough compared to Ninjago and Harry Potter. Though I still think combined with the adults it wouldn´t be the worst selling Lego theme either.

5 hours ago, THELEGOBATMAN said:

That'll be 370€ please.

And it if would be 500€ (obviously at a bigger size) people would be all over it ;).

[Altair1]

On 12/1/2024 at 6:36 PM, Balrogofmorgoth said:

Very hesitant about the book nook idea. If it’s still a normal set with a good Balrog build and minifigs but just usable as a book nook then I’m all for it. But if it’s some weird stylized gimmicky BS then it’s a massive L

Same, I am quite worried on this one... 

[Kaijumeister]

Cautiously optimistic about the book nook, as long as there’s minifigures involved. Lego have seen the demand for a set based on the Gandalf vs. Balrog fight for a long time, I can’t imagine they’d bungle this (he said cautiously).

Maybe I’m oversimplifying a nuanced issue, but I really don’t understand why there needs to be a binary criteria between having either system-scaled sets aimed at kids OR having high-grade sets aimed at adults who have both the space and income for it. I’m sure plenty of us who have the income to afford what we’re currently getting but aren’t willing to allocate the sheer space needed for these gargantuan (yet doubtless incredible) builds.

Whilst it’s a valid point that outside of these small circles the demand for a true Lego LotR return is small, it doesn’t mean that whatever do get should always be breaching the £400 mark every time (and I’m glad 2025 will seemingly break that trend). Surely there is a middle ground that can be reached.

[MAB]

5 hours ago, Kaijumeister said:

Maybe I’m oversimplifying a nuanced issue, but I really don’t understand why there needs to be a binary criteria between having either system-scaled sets aimed at kids OR having high-grade sets aimed at adults who have both the space and income for it. I’m sure plenty of us who have the income to afford what we’re currently getting but aren’t willing to allocate the sheer space needed for these gargantuan (yet doubtless incredible) builds.

I imagine it is down to economics. Small sets need to sell more units and so tend to get wider distribution and need to have a wider buying population. If the kid audience is not there or very small, then adults buying kid aimed sets will not make up the shortfall.

[sqidlord05]

I was able to finish both Rivendell and Barad Dur on the day I purchased them. If you are having trouble with your building speed I suggest that you study the instructions before hand. this makes building newer techniques a lot easier.

[MAB]

6 hours ago, sqidlord05 said:

I was able to finish both Rivendell and Barad Dur on the day I purchased them. If you are having trouble with your building speed I suggest that you study the instructions before hand. this makes building newer techniques a lot easier.

It isn't a race. Some people choose to extend the build experience by spreading a larger build over multiple days or stopping to appreciate building techniques. 

[Kaijumeister]

15 hours ago, MAB said:

I imagine it is down to economics. Small sets need to sell more units and so tend to get wider distribution and need to have a wider buying population. If the kid audience is not there or very small, then adults buying kid aimed sets will not make up the shortfall.

Very true, I guess I’m just lamenting the lack of a middle ground.

[Black Falcon]

1 minute ago, MAB said:

It isn't a race. Some people choose to extend the build experience by spreading a larger build over multiple days or stopping to appreciate building techniques. 

Exactly. As great as building is, I prefer to take my time and wouldn´t want to build a set of this size at just one day. Plus you have to have the time to do this in the first place.

Actually, when I think about it I am not actually sure if I would even be willing to spend so much money for just one day of fun ;). 

[THELEGOBATMAN]

7 hours ago, sqidlord05 said:

I was able to finish both Rivendell and Barad Dur on the day I purchased them. If you are having trouble with your building speed I suggest that you study the instructions before hand. this makes building newer techniques a lot easier.

Well whatever floats your boat, I guess.

I don't really get the enjoyment of doing a LEGO speed run, studying the pages of instructions like it's a final exam at a university.

I'll be building the Dungeons & Dragons set when I return home in two weeks, and I plan to spread my enjoyment over a few days.

[Yoggington]

7 hours ago, sqidlord05 said:

I was able to finish both Rivendell and Barad Dur on the day I purchased them. If you are having trouble with your building speed I suggest that you study the instructions before hand. this makes building newer techniques a lot easier.

Wish we'd known this before we built Rome :/

[RichardGoring]

5 minutes ago, Yoggington said:

Wish we'd known this before we built Rome :/

[Kaijumeister]

Yeah I’m definitely someone who enjoys dragging out build time too, especially with the 1500 piece+ sets. One of the most relaxing things is putting on a bunch of movies in the background and building over the course of a few days. 

[kuzyabricks]

My dear Eurobricks friends, What would you all recommending purchasing (note my budget is around $200~ since I blew my budget on a black pearl moc) a brand new sealed Goblin King set or a used (everything included) Mines of Moria set. Both of them mean a lot to me. I watched an Unexpected Gathering with my grandfather when it came out and it was one of my very first movies watched in a theatre. However I also watched hours of  Mines of Moria review videos when it released to keep learning and keep up my English by watching youtube videos. So both have special feelings in my heart. Would you all recommend the Goblin king set since I doubt we will get more Hobbit sets soon, or the Mines of Moria to go along with the Balrog next year? However maybe a new Mines of Moria set will come out soon? Need your help))))

Edited December 8, 2024 by kuzyabricks

[THELEGOBATMAN]

1 hour ago, kuzyabricks said:

My dear Eurobricks friends, What would you all recommending purchasing (note my budget is around $200~ since I blew my budget on a black pearl moc) a brand new sealed Goblin King set or a used (everything included) Mines of Moria set. Both of them mean a lot to me. I watched an Unexpected Gathering with my grandfather when it came out and it was one of my very first movies watched in a theatre. However I also watched hours of  Mines of Moria review videos when it released to keep learning and keep up my English by watching youtube videos. So both have special feelings in my heart. Would you all recommend the Goblin king set since I doubt we will get more Hobbit sets soon, or the Mines of Moria to go along with the Balrog next year? However maybe a new Mines of Moria set will come out soon? Need your help))))

I mean personally, I'd go with Moria just because the Lord of the Rings movies are vastly better than the Hobbit ones in my opinion; a set on the former makes me so much more excited than on the latter.

As for the quality of the sets, I'd actually say they are on the same level. Minifigures are great in both (albeit slightly more exciting in Moria), and same for the builds.

In the end though, it's your choice—and if you hold more sentimental value to the Goblin King set, and have doubts about the Moria one, then maybe you should get the former. 

[Black Falcon]

8 hours ago, kuzyabricks said:

My dear Eurobricks friends, What would you all recommending purchasing (note my budget is around $200~ since I blew my budget on a black pearl moc) a brand new sealed Goblin King set or a used (everything included) Mines of Moria set. Both of them mean a lot to me. I watched an Unexpected Gathering with my grandfather when it came out and it was one of my very first movies watched in a theatre. However I also watched hours of  Mines of Moria review videos when it released to keep learning and keep up my English by watching youtube videos. So both have special feelings in my heart. Would you all recommend the Goblin king set since I doubt we will get more Hobbit sets soon, or the Mines of Moria to go along with the Balrog next year? However maybe a new Mines of Moria set will come out soon? Need your help))))

Just to be clear. You want to buy them from Bricklink, or you got an offer to buy those two Sets? 

Personally looking at the Sets both look great buildwise but the minifigures of the Moria Set just look much better to me, so I would probably go with the mines. But as you said, there is like no chance they will make the Goblin King again, so if you want to have it, probably wiser to go for that one, if you would be willing to buy a 500€ Moria Set in the Future. Though of course it isn´t certain they will make one in the future, and with the Balrog releasing I would rather guess they don´t have it planned for next year. So I guess it isn´t really something that someone can decide for you.

Sorry, probably not very helpful ;)

[kuzyabricks]

3 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

Just to be clear. You want to buy them from Bricklink, or you got an offer to buy those two Sets? 

Personally looking at the Sets both look great buildwise but the minifigures of the Moria Set just look much better to me, so I would probably go with the mines. But as you said, there is like no chance they will make the Goblin King again, so if you want to have it, probably wiser to go for that one, if you would be willing to buy a 500€ Moria Set in the Future. Though of course it isn´t certain they will make one in the future, and with the Balrog releasing I would rather guess they don´t have it planned for next year. So I guess it isn´t really something that someone can decide for you.

Sorry, probably not very helpful ;)

No, any input is helpful thank you))) I was swayed toward Goblin king set but then remembered 90% of the set is brittle brown((((

[Black Falcon]

18 minutes ago, kuzyabricks said:

No, any input is helpful thank you))) I was swayed toward Goblin king set but then remembered 90% of the set is brittle brown((((

There are also a lot Black and Grey Parts. The good thing is that all of the brown bricks should be easy to replace - though of course that would be an extra cost. But looking at the list I haven´t seen parts that seem to be rare, as actually at least most of them are even still in production. In the end the really rare parts are the figures.

And when it comes to figures, I would be afraid that Gimly would break in the Moria Set - aside from that that one should be fine too.

So the real question now is if you can live with having to replace some of the parts for an extra cost I guess.