I like both equally, as they both bring different elements to the Fantasy genre. Castle actually brings castles, villages, and factions while LoTR brings more of the fantasy elements in that were brought in earlier years ago.

Personally though, I'd like something new, Like Greek, Roman, Nordic, etc.

-Omi

After finally seeing LotR in better quality pictures, it is a harder decision. But, I still think we need to wait till we see the figs(whether in our hands or by reviews), and see how the builds are. It's still so hard to compare LotR to Castle, though. Theres just so much goodness in all those years.

The first LotR Wave was just the begin. The quality of the sets will be goin up from wave to wave. Than see what we can expecting:

Buildings and minifigures based of THE HOBBIT:

-Thranduil's halls in northern Mirkwood,

-Dale, city of the Northmen,

-Erebor the Lonely Mountain,

-Lake-town, also known as Esgaroth, the township of the Lake-men in Wilderland,

-The Great Halls of the Misty Mountains,

-Dol Guldur, a stronghold of Sauron

...the "Battle of Five Armies"

The different landscapes from the LORD OF THE RINGS:

-Hobbiton, Isengard, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Edoras, Osgiliath and Minas Tirith, Mordor inclusive Black Gate, Minas Morgul, Cirith Ungol, Barad-dûr and finally Mount Doom

The other different cultures like the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, the Easterlings, Corsairs of Umbar, the Oathbreakers (also known as the Dead Men of Dunharrow), the Haradrim and of course the Sindar and Noldor Elves of the Last Alliance at the Battle of Dagorlad

Damn, the quality of the next waves will definitely be amazing! LEGO LOTR can not fail! See just the upcoming 'First Wave'. The details at the Uruk-hai's and Orc's are absolute fantastic. Eomer and King Theoden are also grandiose!

Oh-man, this theme here can really become the best architectural theme inclusive best detailed minifigures of all time.

Edited May 6, 201212 yr by Elander

While I'm happy with the LOTR license, I'm sad about the designs themselves and the sets that were chosen to be made. My first problem is that they are so terribly drab and boring. Castle has always had a problem with tending to have too much grey and not enough of another color added to them but LOTR is really exacerbating the problem. Helms Deep might as well just be generic grey wall set.

The specific scenes that were chosen to be recreated aren't the best either. There are a ton of more colorful and exciting scenes, like Rivendell or Lothlorien that could have been chosen. Isengard would have been a great choice, or anything with ents.

I love LoTR, really, but it's too sad that they must stop castle sets for this reason.

I mean, they did ALIEN CONQUEST during STAR WARS, and they are both a space set, aren't they?

By the way I think a lot of people is hoping to revive Crusaders or Black Falcons, since the Black Falcon came back on the recent Kingdom Joust...

The ONLY thing that would make me want castle over LOTR is if they did a historic or kingdom of heaven-like wave of castle. With RED crosses. But we all know that will not happen...

I love LoTR, really, but it's too sad that they must stop castle sets for this reason.

I mean, they did ALIEN CONQUEST during STAR WARS, and they are both a space set, aren't they?

By the way I think a lot of people is hoping to revive Crusaders or Black Falcons, since the Black Falcon came back on the recent Kingdom Joust...

Honestly, I think it's in their best interest to keep a solitary Castle/Fantasy/Medieval line on sale. Many people are excited for this upcoming line, and to give them too many options to choose from, they might feel shafted; I know I would. I only have so much disposable income to use on Lego, and if they started releasing two lines that I wanted to buy in multiples, I would have to make a very tough decision between the two. As much as I would love to see a return to classic factions, I understand that the Tolkien line is a huge deal to a vast number of people; with the upcoming films in the next two years, this might be the only chance for this to be a viable line, and I want that opportunity for myself and the other fans. Lego knows that AFoLs have been clamoring for this theme for years. After this theme has lost its steam, they can and will undoubtedly go back to unlicensed castle/historical sets.

Also, while yes, Alien Conquest is sold alongside Star Wars, Star Wars is now an "evergreen" theme, at the very least until the license is up in 2022. It will have a span of 23 years. When Star Wars first came out in 1999, it actually wasn't sold alongside any other large Space themes, according to my sources. During that year, the Space set's largest count was 23 pieces, and the entirety of the line consisted of re-introduced factions and re-numbered sets. Space didn't come around again for another 2 years when Life on Mars was introduced, and then discontinued, in 2001. This year, not only is the Tolkien line coming out, but the Disney Princess theme, the Vampire Castle, the Kingdom's Joust, the Castle-themed Heroica, and the Ninjago theme is still going, despite it being and "Action" theme on Eurobricks, took inspiration from classic Ninjas that took over Castle from 1998-2000. We have a good number of Castle/Historic-themed sets and lines this year, despite some of them not being either traditional or minifig-scale.

Edited May 6, 201212 yr by LRDark

I mean, they did ALIEN CONQUEST during STAR WARS, and they are both a space set, aren't they?

Star Wars isn't classified as a Space theme in Lego, and it is it's own seperate theme. We have had at least 4 Space themes during the run of Star Wars.

-Omi

I'm a minority that has never seen or read a Tolkien book/movie so naturally I have little to no interest in the LOTR legos.

The flagship Helms Deep just looks like a uninspiring huge grey wall to me.

I'm more interested in the upcoming Vampire Castle.

I'm more interested in the upcoming Vampire Castle.

I'm really looking forward to this one. I love nearly every aspect of the actual building, and it would be nice for my Fright Knights to have a proper castle.

I go LOTR all the way. I had been waiting for a Lord of the Rings license since the Fellowship of the Ring.

There is no way i can choose between castle and LOTR as themes... castle to me is timeless, something full of charm and joy. Lego without castle is unthinkable, although i have to say i'd prefer a few years without castle than see a return of the KKII monstrosities. LOTR, on the other hand, is something that if it had come out when i was a child, would have sent me into paroxyms of joy. (Tolkien was my favourite author and i reread his books obsessively as a tot) I am still pleased beyond measure as an adult that these sets are finally happening, but don't feel able to make an evaluation of the theme as a whole until we see (and get hold of!) some more of the sets themselves.

tl;dr, castle is awesome, LOTR is awesome, wish we could have both (kingdoms was a fantastic subtheme), but i'm happy with what we have. Can't wait to get my hands on the Mines of Moria and Helm's Deep sets!

Edited May 9, 201212 yr by gabe

Like I said, the only way classic castle would be better is if they did a historical castle series...

Until then, LOTRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !