LEGO LotR - general discussion

[Lego Spy]

I hope it's brick-built too, or at least a new design and not just a repaint of Dragon Mountain's. However I think with the fact that they put time and money into the new molds for 70403 I think they'll probably want to use it again...

-Lego Spy

[TheLegoDr]

They could use a molded head and brick built body like the ninjago dragons. If they could make their wings look better those dragons were actually quite large. I'm thinking more along the Fire Temple Dragon.

[N7LEGO]

Do you think guys we'll have a Bree set ? I hope so. Something in the same style than the Lake Town set, with the Prancing Pony.

[Str0ngbad]

I really doubt it. There are a lot of more unique and iconic places left to be made in what is likely just one more wave. It could certainly make a nice set but I just think it's too far down the list.

[Blakstone]

Do you think guys we'll have a Bree set ? I hope so. Something in the same style than the Lake Town set, with the Prancing Pony.

When I came out of my dark ages for Lord of the Rings, Bree and the Prancy Pony was one of four things I really wanted to build. LEGO has made a very lame Weathertop, but Bree, The Gates of Argonath, and Meduseld the Golden Hall of Edoras have all escaped official sets.

I do hope we get a Bree but if LEGO skips Gondor for it, I fear that others on this board might revolt.

[Leo604]

Do you think guys we'll have a Bree set ? I hope so. Something in the same style than the Lake Town set, with the Prancing Pony.

I think it's more likely we'd get a bar-like set, like when the Hobbits are eating and drinking with Strider observing them. In my opinion the movies didn't give the rest of Bree enough screen time for TLG to make a set of the same size as Lake-town.

[SheepEater]

Do you think guys we'll have a Bree set ? I hope so. Something in the same style than the Lake Town set, with the Prancing Pony.

I'd prefer it in the style of the 10193 Medieval Market Village.

[Lego Spy]

I doubt the bar part, just look at the abominable thing they did to the Waiter at the Lego website:

"Oh no! My only bottle with the picture of the grapes on it, where has it gone?" *faints*

-Lego Spy

[Fives]

The Smaug debate is very interesting to read. I think LEGO has three choices:

1. A large brick built dragon, at almost minifig scale. Sure, it'd be an amazing build and display piece, but difficult for kids to play with, and would likely mean nothing else in the same set. A risky move, that likely wouldn't be the best in the grand scheme of things.

2. A System scale dragon, like the Castle dragons. Maybe slightly bigger, but still all molded. Easy for kids to p,at with, but it may look I lame next to figs and buildings. A safe choice, but one that will guarantee a lot of disappointment from fans.

3. A Ninjago style dragon. Molded head, brick built body, foldable wings with cloth (like sails) to make the wings look full when open. This would give Smaug a more impressive appearance next to figs, make him look and feel less like an action figure, yet still be part of a much larger set (Erebor or Laketown). This, in my mind, would be the best choice LEGO could make. Kids would recognize the style from Ninjago and want another cool dragon, and Tolkien fans get a brick built Smaug within a reasonable price and piece range.

[The_Chosen_1]

I agree, Fives. A slightly scaled-down, but still brick built, version of Smaug is probably the best way to go. If it were a $120-range set, we could still get a very good sized dragon and still have room left for a small section of the Erebor treasure room and/or Dale.

Edited August 2, 2013 by The_Chosen_1

[Fives]

I agree, Fives. A slightly scaled-down, but still brick built, version of Smaug is probably the best way to go. Ff it were a $120-range set, we could still get a very good sized dragon and still have room left for a small section of the Erebor treasure room and/or Dale.

That's exactly what I'm hoping for, and what I expect LEGO to do. It just seems to make the most sense. LEGO really hit a home run with the Ninjago dragon designs (I never bought one myself, but they look really fantastic), and for them not to use that tenchnique in those theme, which is targeted for a similar age group as Ninjago, would be folly.

I think the discussion about Smaug is less how will he be made, and more of what scene will they depict him in. There's really only two iconic scenes to choose from, and only one that is really action packed. It's reasonable to assume a Laketown/Dale focused set with Smaug. His conversation with Bilbo, while iconic, doesn't seem to lend that much in the way of a fun set to play with, whereas an attack on a city is perfect.

[cloneman155]

I keep forgetting the children need to like the sets too Completely agree Fives.

[SMC]

molded for me as I need one to fight my t-rex and I can make a brick one myself but not a molded on, I as love to have a few big molded lego like the newer shark, t-rex, troll.

[Str0ngbad]

I'm sure TLG could surprise me with a 'Ninjago-like' dragon but I have to say I think I'd prefer a molded one too. I'd like to leave my Bionicle days behind me. I am certain it will not be wholly brick-built though. That just wouldn't make any sense at all at a reasonable scale.

[Lego Spy]

I agree as well, a Ninjago-style dragon would probably be the best plan for children and adults... That sounded weird.

-Lego Spy

[Faefrost]

That's exactly what I'm hoping for, and what I expect LEGO to do. It just seems to make the most sense. LEGO really hit a home run with the Ninjago dragon designs (I never bought one myself, but they look really fantastic), and for them not to use that tenchnique in those theme, which is targeted for a similar age group as Ninjago, would be folly.

I think the discussion about Smaug is less how will he be made, and more of what scene will they depict him in. There's really only two iconic scenes to choose from, and only one that is really action packed. It's reasonable to assume a Laketown/Dale focused set with Smaug. His conversation with Bilbo, while iconic, doesn't seem to lend that much in the way of a fun set to play with, whereas an attack on a city is perfect.

Something like the Ninjago brick built, but with some sort OS sailcloth or printed plastic for the wings? Much like they did with the old creator Dragon set?

Edited August 2, 2013 by Faefrost

[Dr.Cogg]

What if lego used the sails from the pirate ship ambush in a different color for smaugs wings.

[SheepEater]

I don't see how a well designed, sturdy brick built creature isn't any less playable than a molded one. Look at Shelob.

Edited August 2, 2013 by SheepEater

[deskp]

Thing about the ninjago dragons is they looks pretty ugly. Also Smaugs body is big and thick.

[SMC]

^

+1

[The_Chosen_1]

I like to think that the designers would put a little more effort into Smaug than the Ninjago dragons, but I do think that type of build would be the best way to go. A molded Smaug would probably be Lego's largest molded creature to date, which IMO strays too far from "building toy" into "normal plastic toy" territory.

[SMC]

The Dino HQ set is great and it comes with what must be the largest molded thing to date but its a large set and has a good build. If we get a large molded smaug I think it would work as long as it comes in a big set with a good build to make up for the large mild and also help pay for it. Kids would love it and if the build of the rest of the set was right afol could too.

[Fives]

I think that the next LOTR/Hobbit SDCC exclusive should be, rather than anything from the films, Peter Jackson! It would make the best exclusive fig. He wouldn't likely be in any real sets, and if distributed more reasonably, unlike Azog, he wouldn't be too expensive. I think a PJ fig would kinda make the whole theme feel complete.

[Blakstone]

I think that SDCC promos should be preview features in exclusive packaging. If they did a Peter Jackson in modern appearance (as apposed to his cameo already in mnifig form), I would not particularly want him. He would be out of place in any Tolkien style MOC. The most I would do with him is to put him in a City Modular display.

Edited August 6, 2013 by Blakstone

[Fives]

I think that SDCC promos should be preview features in exclusive packaging. If they did a Peter Jackson in modern appearance (as apposed to his cameo already in mnifig form), I would not particularly want him. He would be out of place in any Tolkien style MOC. The most I would do with him is to put him in a City Modular display.

I wouldn't want him in one of his cameos (we technically already got him as a Corsair). I think a proper version of him would be a really cool collectible for LEGO and non-LEGO fans alike. He wouldn't be a fig used for anything. Just a really cool collectible. That's what LEGO has missed when it comes to the SDCC figs. They should make figs who would likely never be put in normal sets, yet still have that exclusive aspect. So many Super Heroes fans have been robbed of the chance to get some of their favourite characters because they are so rare and cost unreasonable amounts of money online.

Sorry, this kinda turned into a rant.