LEGO LotR - general discussion

[Deathleech]

Question: is there somewhere the information which LoTR has sold well or not so well?

There is no concrete information, but pretty much everything points to "not so well". The LotR line presumably cut short before a third wave was released, the last two Hobbit waves being in stores a VERY short time and not stocked much, etc. are indicators the line wasn't near as successful as Lego would have liked.

Not bad, but not amazing. The $4.13 price tag makes it really hard to want to buy these in an significant numbers. That's more than the price of an entire CFM! I am hoping BrickForge or one of them gives us a good rendition. they are usually around $1.50, much easier to stomach.

Edited January 13, 2015 by Deathleech

[Zilcho]

IMHO, those custom gondor helmets don't look too good. They're a bit too tall I think.

[BrickSev]

Well also for playability the open rear side is key. Most of my recent MOCs are open at one side (despite being modular).

Back to my question whether we can find out which set was a success - I think a look into the financial report might reveal how well they have done with LoTR in general, it won't give details.

Does anybody know an insider?

I agree on the "open rear side". I think TLG should take inspiration from your MOCs then

It's quite difficult to take photos of the current modular buildings, so I really hope they will follow your path

As for the financial report: certain data are make available to the public but usually it's never so specific. Just income and similar things

[Ardelon]

Meh, those custom Gondor helmets are so conical, theyre comical (wordplay ftw). Nice detailing around the face though.

I wonder whether the helmet from the game would be possible to be made physically.

[TheWorldAhead]

I have three questions about NujuMetru's "Minas Tirith" project, and LEGO Ideas in general:

1. When is the Review Board decision released? I'm assuming around May, when the second review starts, but I don't know...

2. Has LEGO Ideas started green-lighting more than one set per review? (I thought this happened with "Birds" and "Big Bang Theory." Could they potentially release as many as they want to (including "Minas Tirith," fingers crossed).

3. If "Minas Tirith" is NOT chosen for this review, how long can they hold it as a potential design/idea for later? Isn't this what happened with "Dr. Who"? This is what worries me the most, because I assume it's now or never for LEGO LOTR. Eventually the license will expire (if it hasn't already), and TLG probably wouldn't think it worthwhile to pay for it again after the way they abandoned the line last year.

[BrickSev]

I hope some of those sets will be released. I don't have great expectations but I still hope

[MAB]

2. Has LEGO Ideas started green-lighting more than one set per review? (I thought this happened with "Birds" and "Big Bang Theory." Could they potentially release as many as they want to (including "Minas Tirith," fingers crossed).

3. If "Minas Tirith" is NOT chosen for this review, how long can they hold it as a potential design/idea for later? Isn't this what happened with "Dr. Who"? This is what worries me the most, because I assume it's now or never for LEGO LOTR. Eventually the license will expire (if it hasn't already), and TLG probably wouldn't think it worthwhile to pay for it again after the way they abandoned the line last year.

The simple answer to both those questions is that it is their game and their rules. They will do whatever is best for them.

Edited January 15, 2015 by MAB

[TheWorldAhead]

^ Thank you for the response, and you're right, I was probably over-thinking it. At this point, however, "their game" doesn't seem to include LOTR anywhere in the playbook. After all, they knew we wanted a Minas Tirith for two years and yet they chose to not release one. Maybe I should just move on.

[BrickSev]

^ Thank you for the response, and you're right, I was probably over-thinking it. At this point, however, "their game" doesn't seem to include LOTR anywhere in the playbook. After all, they knew we wanted a Minas Tirith for two years and yet they chose to not release one. Maybe I should just move on.

A little hope won't hurt The worst thing that could happen is they don't release more sets, which is exactly the current condition. So things can only improve, or stay the same. I know, too much philosophy lol

[Faefrost]

I have three questions about NujuMetru's "Minas Tirith" project, and LEGO Ideas in general:

1. When is the Review Board decision released? I'm assuming around May, when the second review starts, but I don't know...

2. Has LEGO Ideas started green-lighting more than one set per review? (I thought this happened with "Birds" and "Big Bang Theory." Could they potentially release as many as they want to (including "Minas Tirith," fingers crossed).

3. If "Minas Tirith" is NOT chosen for this review, how long can they hold it as a potential design/idea for later? Isn't this what happened with "Dr. Who"? This is what worries me the most, because I assume it's now or never for LEGO LOTR. Eventually the license will expire (if it hasn't already), and TLG probably wouldn't think it worthwhile to pay for it again after the way they abandoned the line last year.

1. It should be released at some point this quarter.

2. Yes last review they did 2. However there are still finite limits on production capacity and scheduling. So the review team will, as part of the business case also look at when it could be made, and will strive to minimize backlog.

3. There are only 3 options once it hits review. Pass and get made, fail and all rights revert to creator, and the rare "still working on it" which only happens in special cases (licensing negotiations etc.) there is no option to hold off till later or pass but return to it in the future.

Edited January 16, 2015 by Faefrost

[legofreak86]

WOW finally just watched Disc one of the ROTK extended Blu Ray. Its a crime theres no minas tirith or fellbeasts or the witch king, Its a shame they couldn't do like a final tribute wave to all six films including The Hobbit as theres gaps there too. Could be something like:

£11.99 Sauron Vs Isildur, Includes Sauron (armoured), Isildur and Elendil and a rock that breaks when sauron hits it with his mace.

£19.99 Balrog Battle: Gandalf grey without hat, 2 moria orcs, balrog and a bridge for them to stand on that splits in half and one side can collapse.

£29.99 Amon Hen Showdown: Boromir (Elven cape), Aragorn (black tunic, grey arms and elven cape), lurtz (battle armour), one urukhai

£39.99 Hobbit: Dol Guldur rescue: attaches to current dol guldur sets includes stairway to platform with cage and archway and a lightup orange ring of fire to represent sauron's eye and radagast's sled, set includes: Saruman (leg printing), Gandalf (injured), Radagast (scared expression and stoic expression), two of the nine nasgul (ghost form), Sauron (black sillouette with helmet)

£59.99 Hobbit: Ravenhill Final Duel: Like ruins and passages but larger with more height, includes Azog (armoured), Bolg, Thorin (chainmail), Legolas (travel) and 2 gundabad armoured orcs. set includes a tower as part of it that can tip over and create a bridge for legolas and bolg to fight on.

£79.99 Hobbit Front gate of erebor, about the size of one section of the erebor set we currently have but instead the front gate which can be built into a wall or into a broken barricade wall, the battlements has places for figures to comfortably stand and a swinging bell feature is also included, the set can attach onto the current set next to the throne of erebor. Figures include Thranduil (armoured on elk), 2 iron hill dwarves, an armoured troll, 2 elf soldiers and 2 armoured orcs.

£100 City of dale attack, same sort of size as helm's deep includes: Bard (current one but with laketown attack face), Gandalf (with injury marks on face), Bilbo (mithril vest showing under blue coat), 2 dale soldiers, 2 elf soldiers, a troll, 4 gundabad orcs in armour.

£34.99 Witchking confrontation: Set includes Fell beast and a horse for theoden. Minfigures included: Theoden (armoured with hair), Eowyn (amoured hair and helmet included), The Witch king, Merry in rohan armour.

£69.99 Oliphant attack: includes huge, partially brick built oliphant, legolas (with cape), 4 pirates of umbar, 2 riders of rohan on horses

£149.99 Minas Tirith includes very large minas tirith made up in sections with towers and walls, grond, fellbeast and a seige engine. Figures included: Gandalf The white, Denethor, 4 gondor troopers, Faramir, Gothmog, 4 mordor orcs in armour and a troll.

That would be a great final tribute wave but sadly it will never happen.

[BrickSev]

I wish it could happen. I like those set ideas

[Trunkbass]

Me too, that line-up sounds just wonderful.. It's so sad

Edited January 19, 2015 by Trunkbass

[MAB]

It's two waves worth, at £600.

[Blakstone]

Lothlorien dropped out of the Popular This Week spotlight unfortunately. We did gain a beautiful MOC with this Rivendale but I just cannot support it. It is under 5,000 pieces but I would never spend $500 on a set. I would drive 100 miles to see it on display.

That said, I know that many here would support any beautiful Middle Earth set and this one is definitely stunning.

[Zilcho]

I support all Middle Earth sets. Lego is never going to make a $500 LotR set, but it is worth supporting just to show lego that we want more LotR!!

[MAB]

Lothlorien dropped out of the Popular This Week spotlight unfortunately. We did gain a beautiful MOC with this Rivendale but I just cannot support it. It is under 5,000 pieces but I would never spend $500 on a set. I would drive 100 miles to see it on display.

That said, I know that many here would support any beautiful Middle Earth set and this one is definitely stunning.

I don't really know why anyone bothers submitted huge MOCs like that. Sure it is nice, for a MOC site. As an ideas project, useless.

[BrickSev]

I don't really know why anyone bothers submitted huge MOCs like that. Sure it is nice, for a MOC site. As an ideas project, useless.

Indeed an impressive MOC but even I doubt TLG could ever turn it into a set. Even as "UCS" equivalent it would have prohibitive costs.

Needless to say as MOC it is truly beautiful but I doubt TLG could make a set based on it.

EDIT:

Just read the author says the MOC has 120K pieces! Even at the lowest cost per brick in history it would have a prohibitive production and selling cost. They would never sell enough of them to cover production cost.

At 0,08 (insert any currency here) which is quite low for a licensed set it would cost 9600 (insert currency here). €, $ or £ does not make a huge difference: it won't be easy to sell it.

Edited January 21, 2015 by BrickSev

[MAB]

I did wonder about that 5000 pieces, there is no way that is correct.

Also think about the weight and volume of the box. It would be a struggle to lift it. In fact, by law it would probably be a two man lift for the whole display due to the weight.

[Blakstone]

I would have just assumed that the photo is of something larger than the actual project. That is what happened with the Ghostbusters set that was approved. So I don't even know what the actual set looks like. Still it is stunning.

[BrickSev]

I would have just assumed that the photo is of something larger than the actual project. That is what happened with the Ghostbusters set that was approved. So I don't even know what the actual set looks like. Still it is stunning.

It's stunning indeed. I read the author said it is 120K pieces so the whole project is unlikely to be approved. However I fear 120K or 750 pieces would be the same since they don't seem interested in making other LOTR/ The Hobbit sets.

Anyway we can still hope. It does not hurt, after all

[builderbrad]

Guys check out this news:

Congratulations on 1,000 Supporters!

Dec 05, 2014

Welcome to the 1k Club! At this milestone, we’ve done a preliminary check with licensing regarding your project and see no known conflicts or issues. You have been green lighted to keep growing supporters; we will do a more detailed check if you reach 10,000 supporters and qualify for the LEGO Review. Keep up the good work!

This is from the Radagast House on Lego Ideas.

I would assume that the license for LOTR and Hobbit are very related, if not the same license. That is good news because of this info! A representative has confirmed from this info that there is at least some life left (or accessible life) within the license for The Hobbit, and therefore, most likely The Lord of the Rings. They gave a hobbit set (this one) the green light not hardly over a month ago. So with that being said I think Lego is still considering possibilities within the LOTR and Hobbit Franchise.

Let me know what you guys think of this info and whether or not it is a red herring or not.

Thanks for all the info guys, I've been following since like page 80 lol.

[Bobbtom]

http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/2015

The wiki says that LOTR is ending in 2015. Anyone have a source?

[Risgrynsgrot]

It's not official yet (I don't know if they're ever going to go ahead and state it so) but I think the fact that there were no Hobbit or LOTR sets at the Toy Fair is a pretty good final nail in the coffin, I mean we've pretty much known that LOTR was over for a loooong time.

[MAB]

Guys check out this news:

Congratulations on 1,000 Supporters!

Dec 05, 2014

Welcome to the 1k Club! At this milestone, we’ve done a preliminary check with licensing regarding your project and see no known conflicts or issues. You have been green lighted to keep growing supporters; we will do a more detailed check if you reach 10,000 supporters and qualify for the LEGO Review. Keep up the good work!

This is from the Radagast House on Lego Ideas.

I would assume that the license for LOTR and Hobbit are very related, if not the same license. That is good news because of this info! A representative has confirmed from this info that there is at least some life left (or accessible life) within the license for The Hobbit, and therefore, most likely The Lord of the Rings. They gave a hobbit set (this one) the green light not hardly over a month ago. So with that being said I think Lego is still considering possibilities within the LOTR and Hobbit Franchise.

Let me know what you guys think of this info and whether or not it is a red herring or not.

Thanks for all the info guys, I've been following since like page 80 lol.

They haven't confirmed anything really. They still have the current license (and they are currently selling Hobbit and LOTR sets), so I doubt they even checked if anyone else does.