LOTR & The Hobbit 2013 Set Discussion

[Deathleech]

The TRU deal is definitely tempting, you can order them right now and get them probably by the end of the week for 15% off MSRP. What do you guys think of waiting till cyber Monday though? By then ALL retailers should have them released since it falls on Dec 2nd. I would say Black Friday but it's a day to soon for most retailers to have them released since it's a day before the street date. Does Lego S@H do any sort of good Cyber Monday deals? I dunno if I could wait, but I will be out of town most of this week and next so no point in buying them yet for me.

[deskp]

General size, the lines are the center of the eyes.

[Infernum]

i saw, Gandalf, Frodo, Elf, and Uruk-Hai Polybags

Really? I've seen them at LEGOLAND stores, but never LEGO stores.

[Floundie]

The Brick Show ( ) has reviewed

and

[Ridge Montante]

I hope the brickqueen gets her reviews up soon for them.

[deskp]

Lego reviews by those people are best watched with the sound off.

[Floundie]

Lego reviews by those people are best watched with the sound off.

Maybe that's a tad harsh, but while I don't have anything against them personally I have to agree their reviews are kinda bad.

Anyway, I haven't watched their reviews of DGA or MEF because I don't want to spoil all the surprises about the sets before I get em.

[tacozftw]

Lego reviews by those people are best watched with the sound off.

Well put imo. Especially BrickShow, so often they get names of sets or figs wrong.

[Gryphon Ink]

Seriously, It's less than 2 weeks until they're officially out, can't we all just wait patiently?

Dude, that's just crazy talk.

[deskp]

Maybe that's a tad harsh

Eh, im not so sure it is. for the mirkwood set I can imagine them saying things like " here we have a younger Legolas, now with his crown since he is a prince"

[Clone OPatra]

Eh, im not so sure it is. for the mirkwood set I can imagine them saying things like " here we have a younger Legolas, now with his crown since he is a prince"

Except... they know it's his dad and say so multiple times. I'm not saying that I don't find some of the comments video reviewers make annoying as well, but you needn't make them out to be idiots and assume they will not know what they are talking about 100% of the time. The Brick Show especially has shown a lot of progression over time and tends to try and know what they are talking about these days.

[Mahtion]

I just placed a in store pickup for MEA and Dol Guldur Ambush. So we will see what ToysRUs decides when I have a paid receipt showing that the item will be ready within the hour. If I am lucky I will get the 2 sets by tomorrow!

Also the Minifigs look great and I am excited to see them and the sets in person. Lego main site did a great job setting the mood with the dynamic set images. Dol Guldur looks positively creepy and foreboding and looks very true to the movie.

[Masked Builder]

Man, I can't get over the beauty of those pictures.

I just placed a in store pickup for MEA and Dol Guldur Ambush. So we will see what ToysRUs decides when I have a paid receipt showing that the item will be ready within the hour. If I am lucky I will get the 2 sets by tomorrow!

I'm interested in see what happens with you too, My Toysrus is likely to do the same.

[Mahtion]

Update: We're happy to report that your order #8966122218 is ready for pick up.

So this means they have set aside my products and I should have no trouble getting them. Ordering in store pickup may be the best way to get the new sets before Dec 1st release date.

Unfortunately the store closes in 10 min and it would take 15 min to get there. That means I'll try in the morning when they open. I doubt there would be any problems, if so they would have been unable to process the order.

I wonder if I should have gotten 2 MEAs instead of a DGA. Only $10 more for another MEA. I do like the idea of having 4 orcs vs 4 elves so the DGA orcs will bolster the invading force against Mirkwood.

[just2good]

So yeah... I got the Lake-town Chase set today.

I went to Toys"R"Us, and they had all of the sets. It's shocking as they didn't show up as being qualified for store pickup. I tried buying LTC and DGB, but they said DGB had a December 1st embargo and then pulled all the sets off the shelves.

For some reason, LTC could be sold then and there. If y'all have any picture requests for LTC, I'll be happy to provide 'em. Just ask. I know y'all don't like video reviews for the most part, but if you like them,

.

LTC is a pleasant surprise. I didn't like it at SDCC, but woah- this set is fantastic. The minifigures are beautiful, as goes for the exterior of the buildings. I love the build on the ship, too. I don't like the interior of the buildings which are small, but that's understandable to keep the price down.

Edited November 20, 2013 by just2good

[Doctor_ocks]

Maybe that's a tad harsh, but while I don't have anything against them personally I have to agree their reviews are kinda bad.

Anyway, I haven't watched their reviews of DGA or MEF because I don't want to spoil all the surprises about the sets before I get em.

My issue with those guys is that they're all about quantity and not about quality. I chuckle when I consider how much they must spend on getting new sets from other counties just to be the first to review them. I want to see reviews by people who bought the set to own...not by people who bought the set to review. You don't have to know everything about everything, but the "brickshow" and "your creative friends" routinely throw up shoddy reviews just to be the first. I'm not going to crucify them, but I'm also not going to watch their videos so they can get more money from advertisers to make more piss poor reviews. They seem like nice enough guys but they've turned reviews into a business and not a passion. That's fine for some, but it drives me nuts.

.

Well done and thanks. One question, on the Master of Lake-Town, you said his cape was black on the outside but it looks purple...mistake, lighting issue, or did I misunderstand?

[just2good]

Well done and thanks. One question, on the Master of Lake-Town, you said his cape was black on the outside but it looks purple...mistake, lighting issue, or did I misunderstand?

Thank you!

I said black? Crud. Nope, it's purple, you're right. I fudged up. Same as Aragorn's.

[deskp]

I know y'all don't like video reviews for the most part, but if you like them,

.

I got nothing agaisnt video review, just how certian people does them. Yours is much more to the point and got better focus on the lego itself.

[Doctor_ocks]

Thank you!

I said black? Crud. Nope, it's purple, you're right. I fudged up. Same as Aragorn's.

No biggie. After complaining about bad reviews I thought I should clarify that that was an honest question and I was not pointing out your mistake lol.

Thanks for giving us a good review!

I got nothing agaisnt video review, just how certian people does them. Yours is much more to the point and got better focus on the lego itself.

Agreed. I love video reviews. I just don't have much appreciation for people who review themes they obviously don't care about.

It'd be like me reviewing lipstick "well as you can see, it's a reddish color and when you twist this bottom thing, it comes up...and...then you can put it on your lips I guess."

[just2good]

I got nothing agaisnt video review, just how certian people does them. Yours is much more to the point and got better focus on the lego itself.

Thank you, I understand. It means a lot to me. I feel the same way with certain reviewers, too. I've always loved your work with The Hobbit comparison pictures.

No biggie. After complaining about bad reviews I thought I should clarify that that was an honest question and I was not pointing out your mistake lol.

Thanks for giving us a good review!

It's fine, it was an honest point.

Thanks again guys, this all means a lot to me.

I'm so on the fence about ordering DGB from TRU.com. It's 15% off there, and I have a $5 gift card that I got for free. I'm curious to see more of it, but I'm not sure for now.

[Ridge Montante]

Nice review just2good. I've seen your videos before and didn't realize it was you. I like the look of the set, yet it doesn't seem like you're getting a lot for $50. I'll wait till i can get it cheaper. I'm really looking forward to picking up the Mirkwood Elf Army though as soon as I can.

[Fives]

I picked up all four sets today (for a whopping $274 thanks to ToysToysToys' markup), and have yet to get to building the sets. I have, however, got the figs out of the sets and I must say they are brilliant. Azog, Thranduil and Beorn are the shining stars of the wave, with Radagast and Stephen Fry tagging along pretty damn close.

The new orcs are also nice, but shoulder armour for all of them would've looked better. The ones without look unfinished or something. The Elves are also really nice, and look great next to Tauriel.

Bard and the Laketown Guard are both awesome, and I personally like Bard better (likely because he's more of an important character).

The Necromancer gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, he feels bare and boring. Yet on the other hand, his simple look makes him feel more ghostly and menacing, as he should be. I think this, like I've mentioned before, is because of the direction PJ and Co. took the character.

Can't wait to get building. I'll post my thoughts on the finished sets tomorrow.

[deskp]

This guy has some great pictures of prints and faces. Its guy from this forum who posted pictures some days ago, but I don't think the flickr album was linked. Great pictures!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidersdd/with/10890662886/

As for necromancer, pretty darn accurate.

[Sirtank]

I was able to order the 3 smaller sets on TRU's website and pick them up at my local store with the 15% off. The largest set wasn't available according to the website, but they had it when I got there. The manager did the override for me at the register this time, so I got to buy it. I just wish I had time to open them up.

[Fives]

I decided to go ahead tonight and build Dol Guldur Ambush and Mirkwood Elf Army. Here are my thoughts:

Dol Guldur Ambush: bigger than I expected. This set is no simple, small build like Riddles in the Dark or Gandalf Arrives. It is much more substantial and fulfilling. To me, it seems like LEGO is testing the waters with a new size of set. Three figs and a bigger build for roughly $20 or so. Clever for smaller waves. I originally thought I'd buy multiples, but I'm not sure anymore.

Also, without Dol Guldur Battle, it feels incomplete. But that is kind of expected, since it was intentionally designed to tack onto the bigger set. Overall, its a nice sized set for a smaller wave, but wouldn't really make sense in a bigger wave of 6-8 sets.

Mirkwood Elf Army: like Dol Guldur Ambush, the size of this set surprised me. It is smaller than I expected. While the fig and piece counts (and subsequently the price) are higher, the overall size of the set is only slightly bigger than Dol Guldur Ambush, and that kinda leaves a sour taste in my mouth. It makes the set feel incomplete, and while LEGO shows two sets being combined to make a bigger fortress, I think that they should have made the set feel complete on its own. This is definitely a set for the figs. I am seriously considering buying about three more to be able to make a circle Elf base. I feel like LEGO let us down a bit with this set. It just feels a little lazy.

Anyway, I'll build Laketown Chase and Dol Guldur Battle tomorrow and give my thoughts on those.