LOTR & The Hobbit 2013 Set Discussion

[Mahtion]

Ents or not having Orthanc at all is something I'm grateful to see.

I had an idea for making Rivendell using Council of Elrond. Someone made a MOC of Isengard underground and had around 12 Orc forges.

Would it be better to buy like 10 Council of Elronds for the building pieces to make Rivendell and sell the extra minifigs like Elrond and Arwen or just wait to buy just the sets without minifigs?

[Str0ngbad]

Ents or not, having Orthanc at all is something I'm grateful to see.

I had an idea for making Rivendell using Council of Elrond. Someone made a MOC of Isengard underground and had around 12 Orc forges.

Would it be better to buy like 10 Council of Elronds for the building pieces to make Rivendell and sell the extra minifigs like Elrond and Arwen or just wait to buy just the sets without minifigs?

It's hard to say whether the set or the figures will sell for more since that set itself has new pieces and new colored pieces that are going to be VERY popular. If I were you, I'd wait until I saw what going prices were on ebay before I made my decision. For my own part, I'll probably buy four or five and only sell off Gimli and Frodo. Those new elven hairpieces are too great for me to sell off. I'll be really surprised if this isn't my favorite of the wave. Regarding Orthanc, I'd like to know its price point (within $50 at least) sooner than later so I can budget for it. It's already going to be an expensive summer but that's a good thing.

[WEREWOLF]

this set will definitely be my favorite in the 2013 wave

http://imperialholocron.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Lego-Lord-of-the-Rings-2013-05.jpg

http://imperialholocron.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Lego-Lord-of-the-Rings-2013-06.jpg

[Mahtion]

It is a nice set for all included. Not only are the minifigs unique and the mold pieces new and rare like the orange leaves but the set comes with an Elven warrior sword. This set has lots of potential uses and options for MOCs.

[-Carson Haupt-]

I might be a little late, but did anyone else notice the new arches?

[DJ Bricks]

I might be a little late, but did anyone else notice the new arches?

There the PoP arches.

[metalandi]

No, the PoP ones are very different.

Compare it:

http://cache.lego.com/media/bricks/5/2/4568956.jpg

[deskp]

There the PoP arches.

Nope, the pop arches have 2 curves.

[Albus]

I wouldn't mind if Orthanc doesn't have an Ent(s) - it is the building itself that interests me, honestly. In my opinion, it is definitely the most iconic building from the films (yes, even more than Minas Tirith). Its only challenger would be Bag End, if that can be called a "building". Orthanc was always the one I would remember from the movies when I was younger and not into LOTR as much. It features more in the films, and I think it just has a more memorable shape and "ambience" than Minas Tirith.

I do think at least one Ent would be good though. I reckon all they'd need is one generic Ent, and then release a Treebeard set later, to combine with it. Throw in Saruman, Grima, Gandalf the White, Legolas, and some orcs, and maybe even a Theoden (with hair) and I'd be very happy! (I'd want some horses too though). Have a few generic forge items (the spiky wheel maybe), and even the little food shed the Hobbits find, and that would be my dream Orthanc set.

And hurray for Elf arches!!

(They had Tom Bombadil in the video game - I do not think it's out of the question that he'd be released, but I do think the only place he would be released is a a DK book exclusive. Tom and Old Bilbo would make great figures for those books (which I have no doubt will be done for LOTR/Hobbit, probably even one for each, including character books. That's four exclsusive Middle-Earth minifigures!).

[Legoman123]

I am very much looking forward to this set, I am however wondering what will be in the interior other than something similar to the wizard battle set, I think his little library, the wizard battle area, bed chambers ? What do you guys think ?

[General Magma]

I am very much looking forward to this set, I am however wondering what will be in the interior other than something similar to the wizard battle set, I think his little library, the wizard battle area, bed chambers ? What do you guys think ?

Nothing - I don't think there will even be an interior.

[WEREWOLF]

what you guys think about the Orthanc set. will it be a scene before or after Saruman joins Sauron?

[The Legonater]

what you guys think about the Orthanc set. will it be a scene before or after Saruman joins Sauron?

Considering Saruman joins Sauron before the start of the trilogy, I'd say the latter.

[Str0ngbad]

what you guys think about the Orthanc set. will it be a scene before or after Saruman joins Sauron?

I think the question is whether it is before, during, or after the defeat of Saruman.

[Leo604]

what you guys think about the Orthanc set. will it be a scene before or after Saruman joins Sauron?

Probably after, since it would coincide with the time and setting of Orc Forge.

[Artanis I]

Before or after Gandalf the White & co have turned up to the field of victory is more likely the question. Unless it's just an architectural structure with no minifigs. (We still don't know if there will be anything other than a building.)

[Dr.Cogg]

If the Orthanc has interior it probably won't have a back.

[howie28]

Or it could have a hinged back like the Star Wars Jabba's Palace.

[Albus]

I am not sure about interior, but I am pretty sure it will at least have Saruman. Just like the UCS Millenium Falcon - it didn't need figures, being a USC, but they fit, and it might not be the same without them. What is an Orthanc without a Saruman?

I would hope for a compromise regarding the interior: have an interior, for playability, but keep it a closed (and therefore hinged) building, so that it doesn't "look" like a playset.

Edited February 26, 2013 by Albus

[Legoman123]

I am not sure about interior, but I am pretty sure it will at least have Saruman. Just like the UCS Millenium Falcon - it didn't need figures, being a USC, but they fit, and it might not be the same without them. What is an Orthanc without a Saruman?

I would hope for a compromise regarding the interior: have an interior, for playability, but keep it a closed (and therefore hinged) building, so that it doesn't "lool" like a playset.

Thats exactly how I want it as I think it would be a nice touch with an interior.

[Deathleech]

I wouldn't mind if Orthanc doesn't have an Ent(s) - it is the building itself that interests me, honestly. In my opinion, it is definitely the most iconic building from the films (yes, even more than Minas Tirith). Its only challenger would be Bag End, if that can be called a "building". Orthanc was always the one I would remember from the movies when I was younger and not into LOTR as much. It features more in the films, and I think it just has a more memorable shape and "ambience" than Minas Tirith.

Are you talking about Orthanc, or Sauron's tower Barad-dur with the eye? It seems like the ladder since THAT tower is extremely memorable for kids and non-hardcore fans of the movie, what with it always being shown and the huge eye at the top.

Orthanc is pretty lean so I don't see how Lego could fit an interior in after they shrink it down. The fact it's fairly boring inside doesn't help matters. I mean they already have the Wizard Duel and palantir eye as a separate set, what else is there to make inside that is shown in the movies? I have a feeling Lego will treat Orthanc more like a model and just do the exterior without any interior. It's already going to require a fair number of bricks to be as tall as it should be anyways. I definitely don't see the Wizard Duel set fitting inside since it's a fairly long set. If they DO do an interior, it will probably be like sets such as Arkham Asylum where it's a flat wall and a couple;e studs for floor and barely has anything but a chair or desk or something boring.

[Faefrost]

There the PoP arches.

Nope. These are the long desired "Gothic Arches". New pieces that show up in a few sets this year. The shape is different from PoP. The PoP middle eastern arches have a double curve to them. Historic MOC'ers heads are exploding to finally be getting these.

[drksd99]

I think Orthanc would be more so from TT/RotK, simply because of the Wizard Battle set released with the second wave. Here's what I think the set will probably consist of...

*the text below contains a spoiler for the third film

Probably a lego.com exclusive, hopefully not just a collector's model, but one with minifigures. Probably would be $199.99, could be wrong, considering that is a heavy price for a Lego set, with 1000-2000 pieces or more, if it is $199.99. 14 minifigures? - Grima Wormtongue (always wanted him because he proved an iconic character when betraying Saruman in both book and film), 6 Uruk-hai (we already saw a lot of them, but an army expansion could be necessary), Saruman (of course), Gandalf the White (with Shadowfax this time), Merry, Pippin, brick-built Treebeard (I'd prefer a moulded Treebeard, but they will probably base him off their design from the video game), another Ent, Aragorn, Legolas (never understood why there is so little of these minifigures, and yet so many Gimlis!), Theoden (non-armor). Orthanc, of course, and maybe the storage room that two mischeavous hobbits named Merry and Pippin find, and the dam. Orthanc, much like Helm's Deep, will probably be mostly empty in the interior and will be full of detail in the exterior.

Though I don't understand the point of the Wizard Battle set if they are going to release this, at least they should give it the ability to connect to Ortanc, like an add-on.

[PassionateMOCNoob]

If there are minifigs in the Orthanc set (lets hope there are 14!) it would be cool, since it is an epic set, to have 1 or 2 Men from Dunland in it as well. I know they had little screen time (although in both FotR and TTT) but so did the lonely corsair on the ship, so I don't think it is impossible IF there are minifigs in this set.

[BlueberryWaffles]

14 minifigures? In a UCS? I doubt it. UCS sets tend not to have so many figs. I would say out of your list we could get Grima, Saruman, Theoden, and Gandalf with Shadowfax. Possibly Snowmane also? And I really don't think we will get Treebeard either. But I do agree with you on the Wizard Battle. What's the point if it doesn't go in Orthanc?