Lord of the Rings Ongoing Discussion

[Balrogofmorgoth]

Look, I remain extremely skeptical, but @Clone OPatra isn’t wrong, I didn’t read all the information. I’ve honestly never heard of sets like this going through a survey process in which actual images of a design make the rounds that early in the process and end up seen by anyone here. If that’s a thing, then it obviously changes how I would look at the situation. But it’s definitely the first time I’ve heard about it. We’ve also been burned many times on “reliable leakers” information that by urned out to be completely wrong, which is why we should still take every piece of info with a grain of salt until lego confirms it with reveals

I also don’t want it to get lost in translation that I would be absolutely thrilled if this was true. It just seems a little too weird to me right now, but I would be more than happy to be wrong

Edited February 1, 2023 by Balrogofmorgoth

[RichardGoring]

If you look at one of JeanGreyForever's posts on the Disney theme thread - 

It says they took a survey and saw photos of sets, price ranges, and descriptions. I've also never heard of surveys like this, but that doesn't mean they don't happen. It's just unlikely that a survey will go out to an AFOL who frequents a forum, so we don't get to hear about it much. Most people won't care enough to share the information.

But thinking about it as a survey, and knowing that LEGO produce concept and test models all the time, I can easily see them doing this kind of market research to gauge interest in a concept and try out different price points. For both retailers and consumers.

The only thing that I'd really take issue with is that JeanGreyForever appears to think that the sets are definitely going to be released, and at some point this year. But that doesn't tally with the broad price ranges, which would have been set by now if the sets were production ready and scheduled for release. But who knows, with LEGO's pricing changes recently, maybe they're also testing that too.

[The_Cook]

Lego have been doing study groups for over 40 years, it's just that it's usually with children who don't go talking about it on the Interwebs. Usually the study groups are with concept images and prototype sets. This is known from various interviews with TLG designers over the years and is also explicitly mentioned in Daniel Konstanski's excellent The Secret Life Of Lego Bricks.

It's quite conceivable that the survey was done with prototype models to gain insight, should there be sufficient interest then those prototype models would need to be turned into production sets, the peer review, instruction generation and manufacturing and packing processes taking a non-trivial amount of time to complete.

[McMurder_them_softly]

Here I am, wondering what is true. I suppose we will have to sit and wait. Hope both rumors are true. Will gladly take either. Would be nice to know if one is coming in March or this year (2023) at all. Cheers all!

[Alegrispa]

The Maleficent set looks pretty legit.

I would like to apologize to @JeanGreyForever for saying they were full of it. We've all been burned before and I didn't want to get my hopes up regarding Zelda (I'm aware this doesn't mean Zelda sets releasing, but they're at least being designed - I'm guessing at this point it's more up to Nintendo than LEGO).

I'd also like to reiterate the fact that 2 LotR D2Cs without system sets aren't unbelievable with how the company currently does things. I'm not crazy about it, it just is how it is. 

[unclejeffie]

Ow boy,

still need the castle, and another viking set, a d&d set and not 1 but 2 lord of the rings sets!!!!

need another job i think

[Alegrispa]

3 minutes ago, unclejeffie said:

Ow boy,

still need the castle, and another viking set, a d&d set and not 1 but 2 lord of the rings sets!!!!

need another job i think

I feel ya. Last year I promised myself the only sets I'm gonna buy from no one are the ones I missed out on in my childhood. LEGO have been doing so many missteps lately, not to mention the decline in quality assurance, I'd thought I boycott them a little until the bubble pops.

But just when I think I'm out those b*stards pull me back in!

Avatar, the CMFs, the flowers, the parrot, Indiana Jones, LotR, the viking village, a Mars Rover, the D&D set, (potentially) Zelda. And that's just the stuff we know about!

I feel weak and ashamed.

[THELEGOBATMAN]

Where have you found the dragon leak?

[PsychoBuilder]

….and there’s Rivendell. Looks great, but ima need to see it closer before I decide whether or not it’s 500$ great.

Also, I can make out 3 Hobbits, Legolas, Gandalf, and Arwen. There are a couple I can’t figure out, such as the guy on the bridge, the guy on the area behind Gandalf, the one next to Legolas, and the one next to Gandalf. 
There appear to be three in the background—as far as I can tell, it’s Gimli, Aragorn, and Boromir.

Edited February 1, 2023 by Brickroll

[RichardGoring]

15 minutes ago, THELEGOBATMAN said:

Where have you found the dragon leak?

white_bricks_afol87 on Instagram has it.

[Kimpao]

Rivendell photo on the regular place. Looks AMAZING. 

[sahidko]

Not microscale, yes! Day one purchase for sure.

[kuzyabricks]

I can't believe it finally leaked. Thank god it's minifigures and not micro. Doesn't look to be worth $500 but idc I'm buying it

[Khargeust]

It was obvious from the start it would be à portion of Rivendell with iconic spots and not a full Rivendell at minifigure scale. How can People have imagine that at this price tag (that is already huge by the way) ?

[Moon_Knight]

Wow, the Rivendell sets looks really great.

[Alegrispa]

So great to finally see it! Looks good!

And AAAAAAAAH!!! The whole Fellowship is there!!! That's all I wanted!

Edited February 1, 2023 by Alegrispa

[someguy827]

I was hoping for waterfalls and such, but I really really like it! Also feels like it could just be a great set for people who are into mediaeval sets. 

[BrickBob Studpants]

This looks very impressive! No idea where to display it though

[RichardGoring]

Oh wow, that looks terrific! Even the trees look decently filled out, which is great.

[sahidko]

2 minutes ago, BrickBob Studpants said:

This looks very impressive! No idea where to display it though

We are going to need a bigger boat shelf...

[Lordhelmet]

where are the pictures?  I am not sure what the usual place is :) 

[PsychoBuilder]

How did he even get his hands on Rivendell? As far as we know, it wasn't in the survey.

(By the way, don't want to @ you since I'm sure your inbox is blowing up, but thanks JeanGrayForever, and congrats on becoming the most well loved person on EB)

[MAB]

Just now, Brickroll said:

How did he even get his hands on Rivendell? As far as we know, it wasn't in the survey.

(By the way, don't want to @ you since I'm sure your inbox is blowing up, but thanks JeanGrayForever, and congrats on becoming the most well loved person on EB)

The images I see have the confidential stamp on them, so nobody has it. Instead they have the images from a catalogue.

[QuiggoldsPegLeg]

Well it’s obviously blurry, but aside from the Fellowship + Arwen and Elrond, who seem like givens, it seems like we’ll be getting at least one extra figure, since there appear to be 2 blonde elves in the photo. (One presumably being Legolas)

It also looks like the elves might have new hair moulds with hair at the front.

I can make out Frodo, Merry, and Pippin to the left. Gimli on the bridge. Legolas appears to be to Gimli’s left, with dual moulded legs.

Gandalf is closer to the meeting area, with maybe Bilbo in between him and Legolas?

Actually judging by their position I’m guessing that’s not Frodo, and it’s Sam but he just has a darker hair colour than he did in the original run. (Since the 3 eavesdropping hobbits are probably together)

[Lordhelmet]

2 minutes ago, QuiggoldsPegLeg said:

Well it’s obviously blurry, but aside from the Fellowship + Arwen and Elrond, who seem like givens, it seems like we’ll be getting at least one extra figure, since there appear to be 2 blonde elves in the photo. (One presumably being Legolas)

It also looks like the elves might have new hair moulds with hair at the front.

Not sure where everyone else is seeing the photo, I saw a YouTube video with it just now though.   They mentioned they saw the fellowship with Arwen, Bilbo, and two extra elves.

 

That would be awesome with new hair moulds (as it would indicate future sets for them to create a new mold vs. using the old one). more investment cost on their part to design a new one.  That combined with the Barad Dur rumor.

 

Very happy it is not microscale, this is a huge set (I just glanced over at my council of Elrond set, and the council area in the new one has to be twice the size of that area if not bigger). That will be quite a large set which is excellent.