LEGO LotR - general discussion

[TheWorldAhead]

I think the Prancing Pony would be very similar-looking to Medieval Market Village, but since some people might have missed out on that set, this could potentially be a good thing. Then again, the Prancing Pony would be a fairly large set, and I think TLG must know that everyone wants a Minas Tirith set. I don't think they would waste time/sets on the Prancing Pony, which would only have one really new minifigure, namely Barliman Butterbur.

Here are my hopes/expectations for Summer 2014:

$20--Treebeard Travels

$30--Bridge of Khazad-dum/Balrog Battle

$40--Lothlorien/Caras Galadhon

$70--Golden Hall of Meduseld

$300--Siege of Minas Tirith (LEGO Exclusive)

[Haltiamieli]

I think TLG must know that everyone wants a Minas Tirith set.

That's why I very much doubt they will release Minas Tirith as an exclusive set. That practically excludes like 90 % of their usual customers out of the reach of the set. It's just too important a location (not even going into my argument that MT is too huge for an exclusive) to be reserved for one exclusive mega set. See how they released Saruman in a retail set even with Tower of Orthanc exclusive coming out at the same time. My rather unoriginal prediction is that some sort of Minas Tirith play set (I am nowadays leaning towards the opinion (even if I don't like it personally) that it will be "the whole city" in a very compressed scale and style, similar to but somewhat smaller still than Nuju Metru's design) will be the flagship set of the next retail wave, with some smaller sets also centering on the Gondor matter, possibly also serving as add-ons to the flagship. Gondor theme will require its fair share of new molds and such, so they will probably want to make the most of it. If they decide to release another exclusive set sometime in the future, I'm betting on Meduseld (which wouldn't offer much as a retail set anymore, but could be astounding build in exclusive style, and form a nice contrasting (thematically and architecturally) pair with Orthanc).

[Cammo]

$20--Treebeard Travels

$30--Bridge of Khazad-dum/Balrog Battle

$40--Lothlorien/Caras Galadhon

I'm 100% sure that these will come out. The Balrog was also in that big owly picture. And the Lothlorien set was already seen in the bonus level of the videogame.

[TheWorldAhead]

That's why I very much doubt they will release Minas Tirith as an exclusive set. That practically excludes like 90 % of their usual customers out of the reach of the set. It's just too important a location (not even going into my argument that MT is too huge for an exclusive) to be reserved for one exclusive mega set.

That's a good point about availability and affordability. Heck, I couldn't afford Minas Tirith if it's as expensive as Orthanc! Nuju Metru's design was outstanding, in my opinion, but at the same time I can't imagine making the city much smaller. I mean, Helm's Deep was just a castle; Minas Tirith is literally an entire city. I don't know, has there ever been a regular-release set in the $150+ range?

[BlueberryWaffles]

Nuju Metru's design is perfect for a Minas Tirith play set IMO. My next wave would be:

$13 Theoden's Throne

$20 Treebeard Encounter

$30 Balrog Battle

$40 Lorien (exclusive)

$50 Mount Doom

$80 Osgiliath

$200 Minas Tirith

Edited June 3, 2013 by Tolkien

[Haltiamieli]

While Treebeard and Balrog both seem like nobrainer set possibilities, I wonder whether it wouldn't be redundant to release both in the same wave? They would be in principle rather similar builds in more or less the same price bracket. If Lego is planning to release more than one wave, they could just leave one for the 2015 wave. But if summer 2014 is the last we'll ever see of Lego LotR... I think either one might have to make room for other, different sets.

[Deathleech]

While Treebeard and Balrog both seem like nobrainer set possibilities, I wonder whether it wouldn't be redundant to release both in the same wave? They would be in principle rather similar builds in more or less the same price bracket. If Lego is planning to release more than one wave, they could just leave one for the 2015 wave. But if summer 2014 is the last we'll ever see of Lego LotR... I think either one might have to make room for other, different sets.

They would be pretty alike in that both would be bipedal brick built creatures with similar price points. I don't know if this would deter Lego from releasing both in the same wave or not though. I mean both are big characters and they seem like they would sell extremely well to AFOLS and kids alike so I don't see how Lego could pass up offering both. If there is only one more LotR wave coming out and Lego has to put both in the same wave then so be it I say.

Really a Treebeard set would have been PERFECT for wave 2 . Think about it, you get Orthanc with an Ent and then also a $20 Treebeard set with Merry and Pippin to help besiege the black tower. Plus there is no other set currently taking up the 20 dollar price point in the current wave and it was a little sparse with only 4 sets and the exclusive anyways. It seems like a no brainer...

[TheWorldAhead]

Nuju Metru's design is perfect for a Minas Tirith play set IMO. My next wave would be:

$13 Theoden's Throne

$20 Treebeard Encounter

$30 Balrog Battle

$40 Lorien (exclusive)

$50 Mount Doom

$80 Osgiliath

$200 Minas Tirith

It seems like everyone has pretty much similar expectations at this point. I imagine TLG is thinking along the same lines.

[Lynx]

One set I'd love to see is the Flight to the Ford. Arwen (with new sword), Frodo (with a new piece enabling him to share a horse with another rider), Asfaloth and two Ringwraiths. I'd love to have a brick-build scenery and a play feature that lets you pop up watery horses that can launch the black riders.

[SMC]

You make a good point about the number of £20 sets there could be Treebeard, Balrog and even Mount Doom. It does make you wonder why we didn't get one in this wave, it would have made the wave a bit bigger and given us another set we needed and being a small it would have sold really well and it looks like lego have already designed some of those sets so what are they waiting for.

It seems like everyone has pretty much similar expectations at this point. I imagine TLG is thinking along the same lines.

I agree but looks like too many sets for one wave and with the big Minas Tirith set we would also need some smaller ones like a mumakil set and a witch king v Eowyn

[Alcarin]

To be honest, I hope entire wave is centered about Gondor....

we had Rohans (so throw away the silly Theodens Throne!) we had Rohan stuff, we had enemy buildings.

I could maybe see being UCS only white tower of Ecthelion and courtyard with white tree and Hall of Kings and then we get Grond + main gate

Something like

10/15$ set (whatever) Maybe even Galadriel with Mirror and Frodo ??? :D

30$ set Uruk-hai Army just Gondor style (4 Orcs, 2 Gondor Soldiers (1 with bow the other shield+spear)

50$ set Fell beast and Witch King + Theoden and Eowyn (3 figures) maybe Merry

80(90)$ Osgilliath attack (3 Orcs + Gothmog commander + Faramir + 1 Ithilien Ranger + 1 Gondor Soldier)

OR for 80(90$) set we might get Grond + Gate of Minas Tirith (Gothmog + 2 Orcs + Troll? + 1 Gondor Soldier + Pippin and Gandalf ??? )

200$ Courtyard of Minas Tirith with White Tower (about 3/4 size of Orthanc but with no interior except Palantir) Hall of Kings. 2 Gondor Tower Guards + Denethor + Gandalf the White(on horse) + pippin in Gondor attire

I would personally take Mumakil over Osgilliath set anyday, but somehow i suspect we will not see Easterlings/Haradrims AT ALL.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Alcarin

[Str0ngbad]

Take heart Alcarin. :) I don't think Lego will be able to pass up doing an oliphant. I'd bet money on it.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Str0ngbad

[Eurolock]

I could maybe see being UCS only white tower of Ecthelion and courtyard with white tree and Hall of Kings

Something like this perhaps....... Not my creation I hasten to add!

LEGO Minas Tirith_3075a by Chairudo, on Flickr

[Alcarin]

Something like this perhaps....... Not my creation I hasten to add!

LEGO Minas Tirith_3075a by Chairudo, on Flickr

Exactly, just cut all surrounding Buildings EXCEPT hall of Kings (where Denethor sits on throne) and White tower, then also CUT the set at stairs where in Movie Gandalf rides up to arrive at courtyard.

Btw: Now thats a MOC worthy of Minas Tirith

[Deathleech]

Btw: Now thats a MOC worthy of Minas Tirith

It also probably has a couple hundred thousand pieces used to create it

[BlueberryWaffles]

To be honest, I hope entire wave is centered about Gondor....

we had Rohans (so throw away the silly Theodens Throne!) we had Rohan stuff, we had enemy buildings.

I could maybe see being UCS only white tower of Ecthelion and courtyard with white tree and Hall of Kings and then we get Grond + main gate

Something like

10/15$ set (whatever) Maybe even Galadriel with Mirror and Frodo ??? :D

30$ set Uruk-hai Army just Gondor style (4 Orcs, 2 Gondor Soldiers (1 with bow the other shield+spear)

50$ set Fell beast and Witch King + Theoden and Eowyn (3 figures) maybe Merry

80(90)$ Osgilliath attack (3 Orcs + Gothmog commander + Faramir + 1 Ithilien Ranger + 1 Gondor Soldier)

OR for 80(90$) set we might get Grond + Gate of Minas Tirith (Gothmog + 2 Orcs + Troll? + 1 Gondor Soldier + Pippin and Gandalf ??? )

200$ Courtyard of Minas Tirith with White Tower (about 3/4 size of Orthanc but with no interior except Palantir) Hall of Kings. 2 Gondor Tower Guards + Denethor + Gandalf the White(on horse) + pippin in Gondor attire

I would personally take Mumakil over Osgilliath set anyday, but somehow i suspect we will not see Easterlings/Haradrims AT ALL.

You would rather have a WHOLE Gondor wave than Treebeard or Mount Doom?

Edited June 5, 2013 by Tolkien

[Darth Caedus]

@Tolkien, while I don't think it would come true, I'd happily pass on any Mt Doom or Treebeard set for a single Gondorian soldier - not to mention any entire wave. Treebeard set is just going to have another Merry and Pippin, nothing interesting there. Mt Doom - a desperate Sam/Frodo would be okay, but we have enough Gollums already, and you can't really do Sammath Naur justice without an absurd amount of pieces. Now, if a Mt Doom set manifested as a 2nd Age armybuilder (Isildur plus some Last Alliance Noldor & Numenoreans), I'd actually put that as an even higher priority than Gondor. Armybuilding those epic Noldor hats, and classic Numenoreans? *swoons*.

[MikroMan]

@Darth Caedus: Sadly, I doubt LEGO would go for the 2nd Age sets simply because the story of Silmarillion is not too well known to general populace, especially to the kids. While I agree that seeing Gil Galad, Elendil, and the opposing forces would be amazing, it's nearly impossible to happen

[Deathleech]

@Darth Caedus: Sadly, I doubt LEGO would go for the 2nd Age sets simply because the story of Silmarillion is not too well known to general populace, especially to the kids. While I agree that seeing Gil Galad, Elendil, and the opposing forces would be amazing, it's nearly impossible to happen

They don't have to make it based on the Silmarillion material, they could make a set based on the prologue in the Fellowship of the Ring. It would also be a good way to fit Sauron into a set, though it would be much less of an army builder than.

[Str0ngbad]

They don't have to make it based on the Silmarillion material, they could make a set based on the prologue in the Fellowship of the Ring. It would also be a good way to fit Sauron into a set, though it would be much less of an army builder than.

If they put Sauron, Gil-Galad, Isildur, a generic Noldor and a generic Gondorian in a set, I would get a second job... It wouldn't be a great army builder but it would be enough to make me insanely happy.,, and very poor.

[Darth Caedus]

If they put Sauron, Gil-Galad, Isildur, a generic Noldor and a generic Gondorian in a set, I would get a second job... It wouldn't be a great army builder but it would be enough to make me insanely happy.,, and very poor.

Minus Sauron, it'd be an excellent armybuilder - Gil-Galad can fit right into a Noldor ranks, and Isildur's garb could be headswapped to be a "Numenorean Captain." It'd be a superb armybuilder - Gil-Galad and the Noldor could have the same body as Elrond, and the Noldor would have the cool hat, while Gil-Galad would have Rivendell Elrond's hair. They could make 1 Numenorean helmet-sculpt and use it for both Isildur and the generic Numenorean to save on molding costs (only Elendil's helm is especially distinct, as it's super-tall) - and the better to armybuild with. Toss in a few rocks with a figure-tossing play feature (knock down the armies from the Sauron shockwave!) and you've got an excellent armybuilder that also provides key story characters.

[MikroMan]

They don't have to make it based on the Silmarillion material, they could make a set based on the prologue in the Fellowship of the Ring. It would also be a good way to fit Sauron into a set, though it would be much less of an army builder than.

You have a point there, if they included Sauron, the set could be a smashing success.

[Alcarin]

You would rather have a WHOLE Gondor wave than Treebeard or Mount Doom?

Ofcourse!

Sorry but Treebeared means another Ent that we get in Orthanc .... regardless of name!

Mount Doom means a huge pile of slopes OR it will not be big enough to be plausible. And we get more Hobbits!

I'm seriously tired of any Hobbit in LEGO, to me they're half a figure and legs are 99% useless on my MOCs also!

We need a Gondor wave, with Gondor Soldiers, Ithilien Rangers and Haradrims/Easterlings...

If LEGO would end LOTR line without Gondor(3+ Gondor sets) I would be severely disappointed with LEGO.

[MikroMan]

Yeah, we need some part of Minas Tirith, Gondor army builder set, possibly Osgiliath attack / Ithilien camp, Ranger's ambush on Haradrim, Witch-king battle, maybe even a scene with orcs and Grond attacking the Gates of Minas Tirith. So many possibilities

[Str0ngbad]

Minus Sauron, it'd be an excellent armybuilder - Gil-Galad can fit right into a Noldor ranks, and Isildur's garb could be headswapped to be a "Numenorean Captain." It'd be a superb armybuilder - Gil-Galad and the Noldor could have the same body as Elrond, and the Noldor would have the cool hat, while Gil-Galad would have Rivendell Elrond's hair. They could make 1 Numenorean helmet-sculpt and use it for both Isildur and the generic Numenorean to save on molding costs (only Elendil's helm is especially distinct, as it's super-tall) - and the better to armybuild with. Toss in a few rocks with a figure-tossing play feature (knock down the armies from the Sauron shockwave!) and you've got an excellent armybuilder that also provides key story characters.

They could use Elrond's back print for the generic Noldor but Gil-Galad should have his own torso and hairpiece (his crown is distinct) but I'd settle for either of Elrond's hairpieces. What stinks is that this set would ideally have a huge number of special molds already: sauron's helm, elven shield, elven helmet, and a numenorean helmet. If we get a set similar to this, I'm sure that some of that would be left undone unless it is a $60-80 set. It's hard for me to imagine LEGO ending this theme without giving us the chief antagonist. The Mouth of Sauron being released this year also gives me a shred of hope that they might include Gil-Galad but I know it's highly unlikely.