LOTR & The Hobbit 2013 Set Discussion

[jmagaletta]

Oh God, the Battle of the Pelennor is so much better in the book. I know it is a movie and there has to be suspense but Jackson made the Gondorian soldiers look very weak. Also the fact that no enemy besides the Witch King entered the city. Ugh such a shame. And the dead at the Pelennor instead of Gondor's armies/Grey Company. Ok rant over even though I could go on and on. A prince Imrahil minifig would be amazing. Too bad Jackson dropped the ball on including the Knights of Dol Amroth.

[Haltiamieli]

You can see this plainly evident in Gandalf's character alone - for the most part, he's a fairly useless character in The Hobbit itself and his constant disappearing is simply because Tolkien didn't really know at the time what/where to take this character!

Gandalf's importance in the grand scheme of things was greatly expanded, of course, when Tolkien deviced the history of the Third Age and wrote The Lord of the Rings, but Gandalf of The Hobbit is far from useless character - his disappearances are because he's literally too useful. He is deus ex machina, solving all the problems for Bilbo and the dwarves, and it wouldn't make that exciting book if Gandalf sticked around for the whole story.

[mpaisana]

Théoden's death is epic. I don't like to speculate and list everything I would like to see in Lego, but Witch King, fell beast, Éowin, Merry and Théoden riding snowmane would definitely be something. Maybe next year.

[jmagaletta]

I am a Die Hard Lego SW and have been so close to forgetting that line and going all LOTR/The Hobbit. But TLG has yet to make those sets and figures that will push me over the edge.

[Str0ngbad]

I've got to have a Prince Imrahil...

Gandalf's importance in the grand scheme of things was greatly expanded, of course, when Tolkien devised the history of the Third Age and wrote The Lord of the Rings, but Gandalf of The Hobbit is far from useless character - his disappearances are because he's literally too useful. He is deus ex machina, solving all the problems for Bilbo and the dwarves, and it wouldn't make that exciting book if Gandalf sticked around for the whole story.

Precisely. Gandalf basically is a lesser god/angel. And its not like Tolkien didn't have in his mind what it was Gandalf was going off to do. He left it out because it wasn't a part of Bilbo's adventure which is what The Hobbit is about. It wasn't skipped because it wasn't a critical part of the history of Middle Earth or because he hadn't decided what to do with Gandalf. Many times, Tolkien spoke of how the difference in tone of the Hobbit bothered him and he ultimately settled on just saying the Hobbit was a version that had been simplified for children from a much more detailed history. It's not as suitable for that kind of story to have multiple plot lines that you skip to and from. Now with Jackson having already done LOTR, Gandalf's part is crucial to tying the trilogies together (and honestly could be the best part of the Hobbit). Also, Galadriel WAS originally involved as was Elrond and at least one character that Jackson will probably skip.

[Deathleech]

Does anyone else noted that the 2012 Lego sales report doesn't even mention the Lord of The Rings? I've been looking at the document (the large and boring file), I've word searched it and there is no mention to LOTR or the Hobbit...

What report are you looking at? I just did a search and I saw their profits were way up and, as usua, they just mentioned City, Star Wars, and Friends but no other themes so I wouldn't look too deep into it....

[fuavarra]

I would love too see a Lego version of Roäc (the raven). That would be nice for a set :)

btw: I find the Alien Avengers head really useful for expanding my orc army.

[The Legonater]

Oh God, the Battle of the Pelennor is so much better in the book. I know it is a movie and there has to be suspense but Jackson made the Gondorian soldiers look very weak. Also the fact that no enemy besides the Witch King entered the city. Ugh such a shame. And the dead at the Pelennor instead of Gondor's armies/Grey Company. Ok rant over even though I could go on and on. A prince Imrahil minifig would be amazing. Too bad Jackson dropped the ball on including the Knights of Dol Amroth.

I'm almost finished reading RotK, and I have to say, Pelennor Fields was amazing. Missing the Prince and the Grey Company and Beregond and etc. in the movie is almost disappointing.

[Mr_Malfoy]

I'm almost finished reading RotK, and I have to say, Pelennor Fields was amazing. Missing the Prince and the Grey Company and Beregond and etc. in the movie is almost disappointing.

I also just finished reading RotK, and oh my god, The Siege of Minas Tirith/Battle of Pelennor Fields was AMAZING. Easily the best part of the book. I wish PJ would've included Beregond & Imrahil in the films. Replacing the Grey Company with the Army of the Dead was a terrible idea in the film.

[drksd99]

Hey, guys, I'm new to the site, and I'd like to voice my opinion in this...

We all know of the new LotR 2013 sets, now that there are pictures right on the first page, and yet despite this thread being called LotR & The Hobbit 2013, nobody seems to care about the DoS wave coming out, much later, in the year of 2013. I am a dedicated fan of Tolkien's books and Jackson's films, and sure LotR may be much more exciting, but I think that we could brainstorm several sets, concerning the new Hobbit sets. I understand that there is a thread concerning this, but it is extremely meager. A set will definitely come out with Smaug, and as long as Smaug doesn't look like that "dragon" (*in sarcastic tone) from Castle 2013...

...I'm fine. Beorn? He'd be a cool minifigure (maybe reuse the feature of Han Solo in carbonite from Jabba's Palace, and Beorn minifigure can be removed from Beorn bear?).

[Daenerys Targaryen]

I've got to have a Prince Imrahil...

I honestly wouldn't want to see a Lego Imrahil - he's simply too epic for the limitations of a minifigure! (same for the likes of Glorfindel)

Same deal for the rest of the Swan Knights or the Easterlings or Black Numenoreans, etc...

Proper miniature producers have done absolute justice to these characters/forces... If I can get my hands on the new Black Gate set, I'll post some photos of it with my Easterling army marching through!

[Faefrost]

Does anyone else noted that the 2012 Lego sales report doesn't even mention the Lord of The Rings? I've been looking at the document (the large and boring file), I've word searched it and there is no mention to LOTR or the Hobbit...

The report made very little mention of any specific product lines. In one or two sentences it confirmed that once again Star Wars and City were the top products, that Ninjago was an unexpectedly successful third and that he new Friends line sold so well it outstripped the production resources assigned to it. No other properties are specifically named. No mention of the new Superheroes lines. No mention of Dino, Spongebob, or Technics, etc. the only real takeaway in the report regarding LotR and the Hobbit is hat Star Wars, City and Ninjago all sold better. Nothing surprising or unexpected in that. I don't think anyone in planning expected LotR to come close to SW or City.

Hey, guys, I'm new to the site, and I'd like to voice my opinion in this...

We all know of the new LotR 2013 sets, now that there are pictures right on the first page, and yet despite this thread being called LotR & The Hobbit 2013, nobody seems to care about the DoS wave coming out, much later, in the year of 2013. I am a dedicated fan of Tolkien's books and Jackson's films, and sure LotR may be much more exciting, but I think that we could brainstorm several sets, concerning the new Hobbit sets. I understand that there is a thread concerning this, but it is extremely meager.

I'm pretty sure there is a thread dedicated to speculation on upcoming sets? With some good thoughts in it. Right now there isn't a lot of open speculation because quite frankly we don't know exactly what is covered in the movie. TLG will keep a tight clampdown on what the sets are because their contracts with WB and NewLine demand this.

Here is one thing that we can probably guess. The DoS wave will probably be a small wave. We already got two of the planned sets. Remember Lego plans and designs sets a year or more out. They did not find out about Jackson splitting two movies into three until the absolute last minute. So two sets that would have been tied to this movie got released a year early, and their planned DoS release would have included a bunch of sets designed for what will now be the third film. Given lead times and long production schedules they may not be able to push some of those back and fill in with new set designs on the fly. At least not within the planned budget for the license. So a safe bet is this wave will be smaller, and will be missing some things that we the fans will cry about.

[The Legonater]

I also just finished reading RotK, and oh my god, The Siege of Minas Tirith/Battle of Pelennor Fields was AMAZING. Easily the best part of the book.

Yeah. The whole thing was just amped up so well that, even after watching the movie, when the cheers of Rohan finally ariving went through Minas Tirith it was just such an amazingly heroic moment.

One of my favorite chapter in the trilogy is probably the Voice of Saruman, though - the writing was just gorgeous. Jackson did a good attempt at trying to shoot the scene, but I still feel it loses something. I can't wait to get Orthanc to set up that scene.

[Artanis I]

Unfortunately Saruman was really only portrayed as a sly evil wizard in the movies, it's a pity he wasn't portrayed more like the enchanter he's meant to be (a bit like they made Galadriel). Sweet musically spoken & actually convincing. "Come over to the dark side, we have third breakfast" (I don't think it was Christopher Lee's performance, but the lack of visual & audio post-production. After all, he reads the books every year...)

Yes, it's a shame that the Minas Tirith siege etc. had to be so condensed, maybe there should've been 4 movies...

Edited February 22, 2013 by Artanis I

[Rogue Angel]

Let's try to stay more on topic guys. General LotR discussions do not belong in here unless they are relevant to the 2013 line, and if there is already a topic - that's where you should be posting, not here because there is more traffic.

[Deathleech]

We all know of the new LotR 2013 sets, now that there are pictures right on the first page, and yet despite this thread being called LotR & The Hobbit 2013, nobody seems to care about the DoS wave coming out, much later, in the year of 2013.

Like Faefrost points out, it's not so much no one cares about the Hobbit as we simply don't know what to expect. Unlike with LotR, nothing is known about what PJ is all including in the DoS film. With LotR we have already seen all three films and know exactly what the big scenes are and all the possible content that could be made into sets. With the Hobbit we know PJ is adding a lot of material and he may leave some things out, but we don't know exactly what. I mean look at the Battle at Pelennor fields everyone is talking about and how much it varied in the film vs the book. The only set we are really sure of is something to do with Smaug, but even that has a number of unknowns like will the set be in the Erebor Mountaina or Lake Town, will Smaug be brick built or molded?

I honestly wouldn't want to see a Lego Imrahil - he's simply too epic for the limitations of a minifigure! (same for the likes of Glorfindel)

Same deal for the rest of the Swan Knights or the Easterlings or Black Numenoreans, etc...

I would still love Lego to do some of them if for nothing else the price factor. You can't really beat mass produced Lego minifig prices. Plus, just seeing them in Lego form with all their cuteness and charm is great too.

[drksd99]

Alright, I was just pointing out that this thread has somehow transmogrified from a dicussion of Lego LotR 2013, to just LotR. And though that is a topic that does interest me, staying on topic is important. I have also realized that this dicussion has literally turned into Lego LotR 2014, an unexpected twist into the third wave, whilst the second wave hasn't even been released yet.

As for Imrahil, etc. I doubt that lego would put such minifigures into their sets, because they only exist in the books, and as Lego bought the license to New Line, the minifigures will probably only be ones from the films. Which really sucks, because Jackson took out so much scenes from the book, (e.g. Tom Bombadil) it is insane, one of the reasons I prefer the books to the films.

I don't mean to offend anyone at all by saying such things, for I am just voicing my opinion...

[drksd99]

This totally denies my previous statement, but, don't you think, like Lego Star Wars, for 2014 they should make Lego LotR battle packs? A bunch of Orcs in one and Gondor soldiers in another? After all, Minas Tirith is one of the most significant battle epics in the history of movies. Here's my ideas for Lego LotR 2014...

Gondor Soldier Battle Pack - $12.99, 50-100 pieces, would include four Gondor soldiers and a catapult.

Orc Battle Pack - $12.99, 50-100 pieces, would include four Orcs and a battering ram (Grond?).

Attack of the Witch-King - $19.99, 150-300 pieces, would include Eowyn, Merry, Witch-King of Angmar, a fell-beast and some structures relevant to PF.

Mount Doom - $29.99, 200-300 pieces, would include Frodo, Gollum, Sam, and some structures relevant to MD. (doubting this one though, since we already saw all three minifigures together in one set)

Battle on the Oliphaunt - $39.99, 250-350 pieces, would include Legolas, three Haradrim soldiers, Gimli, and Oliphaunt with mega saddle.

Battle of Minas Tirith - $179.99, 1800-2800, would include Denethor, Faramir, Pippin, Gandalf, two Orcs, two Gondor soldiers.

[Mr_Malfoy]

This totally denies my previous statement, but, don't you think, like Lego Star Wars, for 2014 they should make Lego LotR battle packs? A bunch of Orcs in one and Gondor soldiers in another? After all, Minas Tirith is one of the most significant battle epics in the history of movies. Here's my ideas for Lego LotR 2014...

Gondor Soldier Battle Pack - $12.99, 50-100 pieces, would include four Gondor soldiers and a catapult.

Orc Battle Pack - $12.99, 50-100 pieces, would include four Orcs and a battering ram (Grond?).

Attack of the Witch-King - $19.99, 150-300 pieces, would include Eowyn, Merry, Witch-King of Angmar, a fell-beast and some structures relevant to PF.

Mount Doom - $29.99, 200-300 pieces, would include Frodo, Gollum, Sam, and some structures relevant to MD. (doubting this one though, since we already saw all three minifigures together in one set)

Battle on the Oliphaunt - $39.99, 250-350 pieces, would include Legolas, three Haradrim soldiers, Gimli, and Oliphaunt with mega saddle.

Battle of Minas Tirith - $179.99, 1800-2800, would include Denethor, Faramir, Pippin, Gandalf, two Orcs, two Gondor soldiers.

I'd buy all of these in a heartbeat, but Minas Tirith seems a little cheap on minifigs. I think a $180 set would include 12 - 14 minifigures. Perhaps add Gothmog, 2 more Orcs, a Troll, Grond, and 2 more Gondor Soldiers. Another welcome addition would be a Rohirrim battlepack.

[Gryphon Ink]

I'm pretty sure there is a thread dedicated to speculation on upcoming sets? With some good thoughts in it.

I could be wrong, but isn't this that thread? It was all speculation until a few weeks ago, when the first set images started leaking.

Here is one thing that we can probably guess. The DoS wave will probably be a small wave. We already got two of the planned sets. Remember Lego plans and designs sets a year or more out. They did not find out about Jackson splitting two movies into three until the absolute last minute... Given lead times and long production schedules they may not be able to push some of those back and fill in with new set designs on the fly... So a safe bet is this wave will be smaller, and will be missing some things that we the fans will cry about.

You could be right, but I'm not sure it's exactly a safe bet. Remember that TLG have had years to work on preliminary ideas for all of the Hobbit sets. Even though the details of PJ and Co.'s adaptation have been kept under wraps, the basic story of the Hobbit has been public knowledge for decades, and TLG will have known that there are certain scenes that absolutely have to happen in the movies. For example, they knew there would be a scene where wolves and goblins chase our heroes up a tall tree, and a scene where Bilbo and Gollum meet each other in the caverns. They could have designed these scenes long before they got any solid details of the script - and circumstantial evidence implies that they did. This is why the Warg Attack set has Yazneg in it instead of the Pale Orc.

In terms of location design, splitting the two movies into three hasn't changed anything. The producers aren't adding new locations, they are just spending more time in each location. And they're still working with the same cast of characters, which TLG probably got design information about long before the rest of us knew about them. They will have had more than enough time to develop their minifigs and creature molds, even if some of them have changed (again, like Yazneg).

I also think TLG probably had more set designs than we eventually got for AUJ. Like any other creative process, they would probably have fielded at least twice as many ideas for sets before they eventually decided on the ones they ended up producing. It's like when a band records an album with twelve songs on it. Most bands don't just write twelve songs, record them and release. They write and record sixteen, or eighteen, or twenty-something songs, and put only the ones that they think work best together on the album. TLG probably did the same thing here. So they have at least a few more "potential sets" that they decided not to produce, but they can go back to them now, polish them a little bit and put them in boxes. It still takes time, but not nearly as much time as it would to design from the ground up.

If you look at the sets they did release, you can tell that they originally thought the first movie would end long after meeting Beorn, but they decided not to produce a Beorn set. Very sad, yes - but now we can hope that they actually did think about a Beorn set, and can put that in the DOS wave. Similarly, maybe Rhosgobel can now become a set, since it's likely to appear again in the movies. More Halls of the Elvenking? Yes, please! The small section of the place that we see in the Barrel Escape set can't be all that TLG ever thought about making.

I'm not saying any of this will definitely happen, but I don't think a small wave is guaranteed. I think TLG will do everything they can to maximize their return on the Hobbit license, especially since this wave will be arriving right before holiday shopping again.

[The_Chosen_1]

Guys, here's the thread for speculation on future sets: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=78687

[Rogue Angel]

Guys, here's the thread for speculation on future sets: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=78687

Thanks for posting this link Chosen.

It us fine to speculate about what will be in the sets we know are coming prior to full details being released (Orthanc) but if you just want to say what sets you'd like to see in the future, that belongs in the speculation thread or a "wishlist" thread.

[jmagaletta]

I am sure this has been asked. But I am not knowledgable with dates of conventions/fairs. When is the next event that could possibly have information regarding Orthanc?

Edited February 23, 2013 by jmagaletta

[Kez]

Somebody over on brickset spoke to a member of TLG and they have confirmed that the tower of Orthanc will be released mid 2013 (June) and they say its a very large set, we alo have GRogalls confirmation on it too so this is definitely going to be released. http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/9515/tower-of-orhanc-2013-exclusive#latest

^ I reckon we'll see it a month or two prior to its release

Edited February 23, 2013 by Kez

[Deathleech]

I wish we could get a little more info on Orthanc like where it's exclusive to, it's price, and what it actually will include. If it has the Ents it could be one of my favorite sets, if just the tower I will be a little disappointed.