LOTR & The Hobbit 2012

[Aanchir]

Gandalf Arrives is indeed a set that impresses me. I love the creative solutions for Gandalf's fireworks-- based on the prelim pics, one of them is one of the new Ninjago snake pieces in bright red, which I think works excellently for this purpose.

Overall I think this theme looks very well-designed based on Huw's photo. I look forward to clearer pics in which we can see more detail, but at the moment I think there's a lot to be said for models like Helm's Deep, Weathertop, and the Mines of Moria, all of which almost perfectly match what I remember of those scenes from the movies, and with lots of stylish building techniques to ensure that they are far from looking like generic castle sets (one criticism I have heard of LEGO Star Wars sets that depict locations rather than vehicles, particularly the Echo Base set which I admire a great deal, is that without the minifigures there would be no way of knowing that they were Star Wars sets and not generic Space sets).

[Markypops]

The big selling issue of this theme for me will be the minifigures. This will decide along with what else is on offer with these sets wether I will buy the sets or wether I will source what I need from the sets from the likes of Bricklink. Like everyone else who has an interest I am patiently awaiting better pictures.

[Seaber]

Just a quick question, is the Orc Force on the far left of Huw's photo?

The sort of brown thing with no box in front of it.

[Stiel]

Just a quick question, is the Orc Force on the far left of Huw's photo?

The sort of brown thing with no box in front of it.

Indeed it is.

[Saruman the White]

Aren't there any clearer pictures of the sets

[TheLegoDr]

After seeing the prelim photos, I was taken aback. After seeing the newer toyfair pictures, I am really impressed. So many people are complaining about the sets, but I see nothing wrong with them. They are traditional lego. I have no problem with prefab wall pieces. I actually enjoyed building King's Castle and I really like the outcome. Helm's Deep will be a similar build I expect. I have never been into MOCing until more recently and these sets will be great parts packs for that purpose. But I think the sets will stand out on their own for their source material. They look pretty close to what I would expect. I don't know, maybe I'm too easy to please. Maybe I'm not a big enough LOTR fan to worry about every little detail they didn't cover. I don't know. What I do know is that this theme will rock the socks off of Lego fans. Of course the minifigures are the selling point. They are iconic to this wonderful story. If they removed the minifigures from every Star Wars, Harry Potter, PotC set, would people still buy them??? Yes, but not nearly enough to keep the company afloat. Everyone wants to see these characters in minifigure form, myself included. The only thing I worry about is the overall cost. Yes, the piece count is quite high in a lot of these sets so that will push the price higher. But at the same time, I like getting lots of pieces. I don't want to spend a fortune only on the minifigures. I want some substance to go with it so I can have a use for the minifigures.

As far as people being upset about Gandalf's cart. I would very much like having a cart. Especially since I only recently got back into Lego, so I missed out on many carts in the previous themes. So this will be a welcomed set, especially with having Gandalf and Frodo and a horse!

I wasn't this excited initially. The more I see it, the more exciting it is.

August can't come soon enough!

[Stiel]

The only thing I worry about is the overall cost. Yes, the piece count is quite high in a lot of these sets so that will push the price higher. But at the same time, I like getting lots of pieces. I don't want to spend a fortune only on the minifigures. I want some substance to go with it so I can have a use for the minifigures.

In a licensed theme, the minifigures are the main selling point (along with a few other theme-related pieces, like special weapons, painted parts etc.). Regular bricks are the same everywhere, but in licensed sets, you pay a higher price for them. This is the reason many (including me) like army-builder sets with more minifigures and relatively fewer bricks. Ideally, 'substance' can be obtained from cheaper sources.

That said, the minifigures might still prove to be too tempting. It's a fine line: if TLC produces sets with lots of figures and fewer bricks, few people will buy larger sets (low profits), but if they include too few minifigures, people will get disinterested in collecting (low profits again). For the most part, I think they are doing it right.

[deskp]

Weathertop seems to have the function to open wide with hinges, which is interesting as no interior of the hill was shown in the movies.

I think it's jsut to extend the hill, open it up and its twize as long.

[LegoBrickSteve]

I am not a troll. Not one of pure blood, at any rate.

In fact, I was more than fair...not bashing or knocking the theme (even though it is indirectly responsible for the temporary suspension of my lifelong favorite theme). I was simply stating that based on the vast potential a property like Lord of the Rings has, these sets were underwhelming by comparison.

Gandorf's cart was just a quick example. If you are given the entire Tolkien Sandbox as your creative playground, old man in a horsecart meeting youngish manboy shouldn't be your fledgling (halfling) offering.

Remember when those trees walked and talked in a Ring movie and rock n roller from LOST would ride on the shoulder?

[surrideo]

I am not a troll. Not one of pure blood, at any rate.

In fact, I was more than fair...not bashing or knocking the theme (even though it is indirectly responsible for the temporary suspension of my lifelong favorite theme). I was simply stating that based on the vast potential a property like Lord of the Rings has, these sets were underwhelming by comparison.

Gandorf's cart was just a quick example. If you are given the entire Tolkien Sandbox as your creative playground, old man in a horsecart meeting youngish manboy shouldn't be your fledgling (halfling) offering.

Remember when those trees walked and talked in a Ring movie and rock n roller from LOST would ride on the shoulder?

What would you include in a $10/£10 set then?

[LegoBrickSteve]

What would you include in a $10/£10 set then?

That's a loaded question. I am the consumer. Of course I would include much more than Lego might. I want the bricks, kid.

Again...on the whole, I was not bashing or putting down the wave. But as a lifelong castle collector (since 86) they just seem to be following a familiar path with the licensed theme now. They aren't bad. I never said they were. I just saw Gwerndorf's cart and it reminded me of so many other mini-cart kits that always seemed like sloppy seconds or an excuse to lazily squeeze out another set within a theme's current wave.

But, not to dodge your question, my $10 kit would be that Gollum dude. In his cave/swamp. Almost like and 8x8 MOC...fish, and foliage and water elements and different color dots. Interesting pieces that equaled up to a neat little cave for a singular, unique little mini.

And if you are going to call me a troll, call me a Troll 2. Because I am that kind of a troll. Nilbog.

[Nagyzee]

I am not a troll. Not one of pure blood, at any rate.

In fact, I was more than fair...not bashing or knocking the theme (even though it is indirectly responsible for the temporary suspension of my lifelong favorite theme). I was simply stating that based on the vast potential a property like Lord of the Rings has, these sets were underwhelming by comparison.

Your lifelong favourite theme has lots of carts as well. The last iteration had one, too. I don't understand why you are harsher on a cart here than in Castle.

And I called you a troll because of how you behaved in the Ninjago topics, not because of your imho unfair opinion of Gandalf's cart.

[surrideo]

That's a loaded question. I am the consumer. Of course I would include much more than Lego might. I want the bricks, kid.

Again...on the whole, I was not bashing or putting down the wave. But as a lifelong castle collector (since 86) they just seem to be following a familiar path with the licensed theme now. They aren't bad. I never said they were. I just saw Gwerndorf's cart and it reminded me of so many other mini-cart kits that always seemed like sloppy seconds or an excuse to lazily squeeze out another set within a theme's current wave.

But, not to dodge your question, my $10 kit would be that Gollum dude. In his cave/swamp. Almost like and 8x8 MOC...fish, and foliage and water elements and different color dots. Interesting pieces that equaled up to a neat little cave for a singular, unique little mini.

And if you are going to call me a troll, call me a Troll 2. Because I am that kind of a troll. Nilbog.

Nah it was an honest question and I hope maybe a few others answer it. Like yourself, if I was in charge Lego would be bankrupt, a £10 set would have 500 pieces and 4 minifigures minimum with as much elaborate printing as technology would allow.

I like the Gandalf set as I think all these sets will be very modular and so Bag end will turn up(if not for LotR then the Hobbit) and all the other sets will compliment each other and depending on your budget you can recreate all the scenes within your own means. There will be people who already have the bricks who can create a better Helms deep or will buy multiples of the large sets and create pieces for others to lust after.

However there are children with £10 and some old bricks and they'll greet gandalf with as much imagination as the man with £1000 plus of lego and film accurate scenery. That is the joy of lego, it is for everyone and every wallet.

Edited January 26, 2012 by surrideo

[NiceMarmot]

Well, I was a bit bored at work this morning, and feeling under the weather, so I decided to analyze the prices on these sets.

I tried to pick some recent Star Wars and Kingdoms sets that matched the LOTR sets on price or piece count. Then using the piece counts and GBP prices from this topic, and USD prices from a post somewhere on a Barnes and Noble catalog, I was able to put together a price per piece comparison. I also calculated a price per brick, excluding 5 pieces per minifigure, and lowering the price by $/GBP 2.00 per minifigure, to try to control for the varying numbers of minifigures in these sets. (I halved the number of battle-droid MFs in the Battle of Naboo set, as those have a much lower value than normal minifigures.)

As you can see below, except for Gandalf Arrives, the LOTR sets have very attractive price points, especially in US dollars and compared to Star Wars sets. The difference from Kingdoms sets is smaller, but in general LOTR is at least as cheap as them. I was pretty surprised at the results. I just hope the USD prices are accurate!

/p => per piece overall; /brk => per brick, excluding minifigures; SW & Kingdoms prices and piece counts are from BrickSet

And yes, I am a geek.

Edited January 26, 2012 by NiceMarmot

[LegoBrickSteve]

I will concede the point that this set does make sought after minis accessible to kids or folks on a budget. As an adult fan of Lego now, I can get selfish. I have much more income to spend on bricks today then I ever did as a boy, so I want the moon and stars.

[Bobskink]

Well, I was a bit bored at work this morning, and feeling under the weather, so I decided to analyze the prices on these sets.

...

And yes, I am a geek.

Thanks for the effort. Seens that if the prices are correct the sets are reasonably priced.

@ General Magma Your was of searching is a little strange If you would google every Star Wars film by name and ad these up, I think the number would be even higher than the numbers ou give.

But eventually, only time will tell. Let's do a bet, and see by the end of 2013 how the sales are going in Europe.

BTW, I see you're from the Low Lands, ever been to FACTS in Belgium?

[LegoBrickSteve]

Thanks for the effort. Seens that if the prices are correct the sets are reasonably priced.

@ General Magma Your was of searching is a little strange If you would google every Star Wars film by name and ad these up, I think the number would be even higher than the numbers ou give.

But eventually, only time will tell. Let's do a bet, and see by the end of 2013 how the sales are going in Europe.

BTW, I see you're from the Low Lands, ever been to FACTS in Belgium?

The last time I attended FACTS I was dressed in a costume! I was said when Lou Ferrigno canceled at the last minute last year.

[Churchill]

I agree that the Gandalf arrives set seems simple, but I look at it as almost a symbolic set. Gandolf arriving sets the stage for all three movies (and the Hobbit, for that matter), because once he shows up, everything changes. This set is a good introduction of what's to come. Perhaps the set should have been released first, to get folks interested in the upcoming first wave. I have no idea if Lego intended the set to be symbolic like that. Just a thought.

[General Magma]

@ General Magma Your was of searching is a little strange If you would google every Star Wars film by name and ad these up, I think the number would be even higher than the numbers ou give.

But eventually, only time will tell. Let's do a bet, and see by the end of 2013 how the sales are going in Europe.

BTW, I see you're from the Low Lands, ever been to FACTS in Belgium?

When I search for every Star Wars episode (Star Wars + episode + number + full name), all 6 of them combined are only a slight bit higher than when I search for

all 3 Lord of the Rings movies (Lord of the Rings + movie name) and combine those counts (around 68.000.000 versus 63.000.000), but that's still 3 movies versus 6.

Nope, I've never been to FACTS (nor any similar convention for that matter) but I can imagine that the majority of people opt for Star Wars costumes if any.

But still, I'm sure the sales will go very well for this theme.

We'll see what happens.

~ General Magma

[LegoBrickSteve]

I agree that the Gandalf arrives set seems simple, but I look at it as almost a symbolic set. Gandolf arriving sets the stage for all three movies (and the Hobbit, for that matter), because once he shows up, everything changes. This set is a good introduction of what's to come. Perhaps the set should have been released first, to get folks interested in the upcoming first wave. I have no idea if Lego intended the set to be symbolic like that. Just a thought.

Then make "Gorndolf Arrives" into something epic, like him "arriving" at Frodo's little mole hole that he lives in. That would be a better set than cart-pulled-by-horse.

[Stiel]

Then make "Gorndolf Arrives" into something epic, like him "arriving" at Frodo's little mole hole that he lives in. That would be a better set than cart-pulled-by-horse.

You haven't managed to pronounce Gandalf correctly yet, coming up with a different version every time you mention him. And you say you're not a troll, eh...?

[Alex the Great]

I am loving this theme, I understand for "classic castlers" that they might not like the theme due to it replacing Kingdoms. But I think LotR is bringing a lot! New pieces and molds coming, and as pointed out by NiceMarmot; the prices are actually quite good (if those are the true piece and price counts)!

I'd much rather see Helm's Deep than King's castle, for such a large set to have more pieces than 10pc/$ ratio is very good for a licensed theme. The design itself I like better also. The sets may have a lot of gray in them, but thats what most of the movies are. I myself like lots of gray for building MOC's. At least there is colour with gandalfs cart instead of gollum in a cave.

Overall I think some were expecting too much! Many said that even before the prelim pictures came out. People have their own opinions and others shouldn't get overly angry for what people have to say, but I also think that people shouldn't keep expressing their opinions if many others don't appreciate them.

[Saruman the White]

Well, I was a bit bored at work this morning, and feeling under the weather, so I decided to analyze the prices on these sets.

I tried to pick some recent Star Wars and Kingdoms sets that matched the LOTR sets on price or piece count. Then using the piece counts and GBP prices from this topic, and USD prices from a post somewhere on a Barnes and Noble catalog, I was able to put together a price per piece comparison. I also calculated a price per brick, excluding 5 pieces per minifigure, and lowering the price by $/GBP 2.00 per minifigure, to try to control for the varying numbers of minifigures in these sets. (I halved the number of battle-droid MFs in the Battle of Naboo set, as those have a much lower value than normal minifigures.)

As you can see below, except for Gandalf Arrives, the LOTR sets have very attractive price points, especially in US dollars and compared to Star Wars sets. The difference from Kingdoms sets is smaller, but in general LOTR is at least as cheap as them. I was pretty surprised at the results. I just hope the USD prices are accurate!

/p => per piece overall; /brk => per brick, excluding minifigures; SW & Kingdoms prices and piece counts are from BrickSet

And yes, I am a geek.

Wow, I didn't realise the LOTR sets were such good value, especially compared to those overpriced star wars sets.

You haven't managed to pronounce Gandalf correctly yet, coming up with a different version every time you mention him. And you say you're not a troll, eh...?

Spelling a name incorrectly doesn't make you a troll.

[Fallenangel]

Spelling a name incorrectly doesn't make you a troll.

Compared to Anikan, Obi Won, Greivous, and Utapua, I'd say he was pretty close.

[CMP]

You make excellent points, Marmot. My personal standing issue is that I can't find where all these parts have gone - are there that many pieces in those rocks? Still, there are good prices.