LOTR & The Hobbit 2013 Set Discussion

[Floundie]

Found the sets at Target, and Mastermind toys. I didn't have cash then so I couldn't pick any up.

[cyng99]

Hi there, new to the forums but long time lurker.

Just wondering, when will we start to see reviews of the new sets pop up?

[Admiral Khan]

I hope there is a 3rd wave of LOTR sets. There needs to be a Faramir, Galadriel, Gondor Soldier, Eowyn, Denethor, and Gothmog.

[Kez]

A good review of the MEA can be found here http://www.brothers-brick.com/2013/11/21/the-hobbit-desolation-of-smaug-79012-mirkwood-elf-army-review/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBrothersBrick+%28The+Brothers+Brick%29

[Floundie]

Awesome review!

We should hear about those polybags any day now, since it was this time last year we first heard about the Gandalf and Elf polys.

[DragonKnights]

Went to my local TRU in Texas today, no sets on display and no polybags.

Any polypag sightings out there, or any idea when and where they will show up? Thanks.

[Shroffy123]

Will the polybags be available online on the Lego site? I have a feeling I'm not going to luck out and find the Laketown gaurds in stores.

[just2good]

Will the polybags be available online on the Lego site? I have a feeling I'm not going to luck out and find the Laketown gaurds in stores.

They wouldn't be on the LEGO site, unless it's a promotion. Supposedly they can't sell polybags directly through their own site on licensed themes.

[Ridge Montante]

Where will they most likely be sold then?

[Shroffy123]

Seems odd a company would be precluded from selling its own product on its own site - nonetheless, thanks for the info.

Most likely TRU. That's the only place I ever saw them in the us.

Here is hoping there is better distribution than last year.

[Artanis I]

Where will they most likely be sold then?

Usually, one is available in North America at seemingly random TRUs in varying stock limits, and the other is available in UK for 1 day only in a newspaper promotion. And any other availability is anyone's guess.

It is also possible that 1 of them may appear as a giveaway at S@H or Lego shops some time next year.

[Ridge Montante]

Thanks Artanis I'll just have to keep an eye out.

[csc166]

Has anyone heard of great Black Friday deals on any lotr/hobbit sets?

[cyng99]

A good review of the MEA can be found here http://www.brothers-...Brothers Brick)

Thanks! I'm definitely looking to pick some of those up when they come out.

[Alfadas]

MEA's just better IMO. But I value minifigures over the sets themselves. LTC is a very nice model.

Thanks. I was thinking the same thing. I really like the figs in MEA, but the set LTC looks better. So maybe I can buy LTC when it goes on sale or something.

[Fives]

Finally got around to building Dol Guldur Battle. While its size is nice (bigger than Balin's Tomb), there is very little space on the battlements of the walls to place figs. Overall, it has a nice design, but it is just simply a big grey wall with some details and stairs. The Dol Guldur Ambush addition really does improve the structure, but it still lacks a sense of finality, and really seems like a big backdrop for figs to be place around. Definitely not the best of the wave (Laketown takes that place).

On the plus side, Dol Guldur now kinda gives us a more concrete orc base. Before this, we only had the Black Gate and Orthanc, which aren't really fortresses. While this set isn't a great 'fortress', it still feels more complete as an evil base than any other evil sets we've gotten so far.

[CM4Sci]

Has it been reported the sets are on S@H now?

-Sci

[TheLegoDr]

I just ordered the sets last night on the TRU sale for my birthday. I will need to go pick them up soon. Odd that they didn't have one of the sets available at the store (the smallest one), so I had to have some ship for free instead.

I can't wait to pull out the figures. I doubt I will build any of the sets though, I rarely do with licensed themes. But those figures look great.

[Masked Builder]

Has it been reported the sets are on S@H now?

-Sci

Yep.

[BrickG]

Newer sets are at my local stores already. ToysRus had a ton. Might have picked some up if I realized it at the time (I don't keep up with LotR or Hobbit sets very well).

[Gryphon Ink]

I got MEA today. TRU have all the sets except for DGA. Normal prices and no problem buying them. MEA is a mixed bag. The tree platform is not bad, but the walls are a mess and will need to be modded. I want to try combining it with Barrel Escape.

The minifigs, however, are fabulous. For all the complaining about Thranduil's "neck ears", his ears are maybe one millimeter lower than a standard Elf's ears, and the difference is unnoticeable unless you're looking for it. His coat of mail is beautifully done. And the other Elves are great. The Gundabad orcs aren't my favorite badguys, but are at least a nice change from standard orcs.

[Propicz89]

Could someone take a close up of the shields in LTC please?

[deskp]

His coat of mail is beautifully done.

Gotta say, it's not mail, or any sort of armor, just his normal shiny robes. Still looks good though!

[Gryphon Ink]

Gotta say, it's not mail, or any sort of armor, just his normal shiny robes. Still looks good though!

That makes sense. It doesn't exactly look like mail, more like a metallic woven cloth. Very Elvish!

[Infernum]

Just bought most of them from today's VIP event. The employees said they got them yesterday, and would be putting them away until January.