LEGO LotR - general discussion

[Alcarin]

As an absolute minimum, I would say all we need is the Witch King's helmet, a printed torso with the White Tree of Gondor (different from Aragorn's in the Black Gate), and a Gondor Helmet. Once you have these three things, you should be able to assemble the key missing characters.

Witch King: Use a Nazgul body and insert helmet in place of hood

Faramir: Use the White Tree armor torso, and have hair instead of helmet to distinguish him

Gondor Soldier: White Tree armor torso and helmet combined with weapons of choice

Eowyn, Technically, she can already be made from existing parts

What Gondor helmet... those are unique.... these are just as needed as torso and SHIELD!

This is what we need:

ideally give us also these plumes to add on the helmet:

And im a happy boy :)

[MKJoshA]

What Gondor helmet... those are unique.... these are just as needed as torso and SHIELD!

This is what we need:

ideally give us also these plumes to add on the helmet:

And im a happy boy :)

Same here! Just give me a small wall section with a few Gondorian soldiers!

[Albus]

Having a Galadriel in the Hobbit wave means they don't have to waste a set on Lothlorien/the Mirror in the LOTR wave, meaning more Gondor... (assuming she is in normal white dress that is).

They'll probably do an early 2015 LOTR wave to finish it all off, if they're definitely not doing one this year, as the Toy Fair seems to indicate. I keep saying this, but I am still firmly convinced there'll be a final LOTR wave... No Treebeard in 10237 Tower of Orthanc, therefore there'll be a Treebeard set later on, meaning another wave...

[Robert_88]

No Treebeard in 10237 Tower of Orthanc, therefore there'll be a Treebeard set later on, meaning another wave...

I think the whole second wave indicates that we should get another one:D

I'm happy that we will get Galadriel and I also think we won't get a Lothlorien set. Such a set would have been a beautiful one but apparently the Council of Elrond isn't selling very well and Lothlorien would be a similar set in terms of new minifigures and play features.

[deskp]

I think the whole second wave indicates that we should get another one:D

It indicates that they planned another one......

[Robert_88]

I wanted to write "will", then I wrote "should" but your version is probably the most accurate one ;)

[Alcarin]

Having a Galadriel in the Hobbit wave means they don't have to waste a set on Lothlorien/the Mirror in the LOTR wave, meaning more Gondor... (assuming she is in normal white dress that is).

They'll probably do an early 2015 LOTR wave to finish it all off, if they're definitely not doing one this year, as the Toy Fair seems to indicate. I keep saying this, but I am still firmly convinced there'll be a final LOTR wave... No Treebeard in 10237 Tower of Orthanc, therefore there'll be a Treebeard set later on, meaning another wave...

No they just did not name the Ent Treebeard to make it ''army buildish''

If they make A treebeard set then that is the biggest waste of a set... another SAME Ent for like slightly different head to waste a set.... Balrog is 10 times better set if so....

[Darth Punk]

I think the whole second wave indicates that we should get another one:D

I'm happy that we will get Galadriel and I also think we won't get a Lothlorien set. Such a set would have been a beautiful one but apparently the Council of Elrond isn't selling very well and Lothlorien would be a similar set in terms of new minifigures and play features.

Yeah the council of Elrond is nice, not thrilling but nice. I think it's way too small and doesn't do Rivendell justice. A much larger set showing off more of the beautiful architecture and not just providing a sitting area would have given the set more playability. It,could have easily been the largest set of the wave and I think done well.

[AFOLguy1970]

What Gondor helmet... those are unique.... these are just as needed as torso and SHIELD!

Reread my post. I did list the Gondor helmet as one of three critical parts needed. The shield would be nice as well. They could use the same mold as in the Mirkwood Elf Army set and maybe make a print for the shield.

[deskp]

Reread my post. I did list the Gondor helmet as one of three critical parts needed. The shield would be nice as well. They could use the same mold as in the Mirkwood Elf Army set and maybe make a print for the shield.

What no no no, the gondorian shield is not that shape. The roman soldier shield would be much better for gondor despite the stud.

[Fives]

Since we're getting four Hobbit sets in October, I'd say its safe to assume that LOTR will end on a our set wave (if we get any more at all).

My guesses are as follows:

Siege of Minas Tirith - much like Nuju Metru's designed, similar in size to Helm's Deep.

White City army builder - an extension of the wall of Minas Tirith, with an assortment of soldiers for both sides.

Duel with the Witch-King - pretty much what everyone would expect.

Osgiliath Ambush - a small bit of rocks, with Faramir and two orcs. Basically the Dol Guldur Ambush of LOTR.

[General Magma]

What no Balrog?

Pretty much anyone could build their own version of the Balrog.

What we really need is the remaining minifigures, because not everyone can customize those or make purist versions of them that are accurate to the movie characters.

And if they do make a Balrog set, let there be an armored Moria orc...

[Alcarin]

Pretty much anyone could build their own version of the Balrog.

What we really need is the remaining minifigures, because not everyone can customize those or make purist versions of them that are accurate to the movie characters.

And if they do make a Balrog set, let there be an armored Moria orc...

i want to see you build this exact Balrog with LEGO official pieces :)

I know i cant!

Balrog is far more interesting set than most of the stuff save Gondorian soldiers and possibly Eowyn and Faramir..... Treebeard anyone can MOC with 20-40 extra pieces customizing that Ent..... but to make Such Balrog as above.... hardly...

if i could get such set for display that would look amazing!

Edited January 22, 2014 by Alcarin

[naf]

Yeah the council of Elrond is nice, not thrilling but nice. I think it's way too small and doesn't do Rivendell justice. A much larger set showing off more of the beautiful architecture and not just providing a sitting area would have given the set more playability. It,could have easily been the largest set of the wave and I think done well.

As AFOL's it's easy for us to say things like Rivendell should have been the large flagship set in this wave. I think 20 years ago, this might have been the case. But today, Lego almost always has big conflict set with lots of play features as the flagship. In my perfect world, Rivendell would have been a 700-1000 piece set, the $29.99 set would have gone to a different scene (Amon Hen, Galadriel's mirror, etc), and the pirate ship ambush would be non-existent. But alas, Lego's marketing team has a different idea about how to make the company money, hence we have what they presented us in wave 2.

[General Magma]

i want to see you build this exact Balrog with LEGO official pieces :)

I know i cant!

x

Balrog is far more interesting set than most of the stuff save Gondorian soldiers and possibly Eowyn and Faramir..... Treebeard anyone can MOC with 20-40 extra pieces customizing that Ent..... but to make Such Balrog as above.... hardly...

if i could get such set for display that would look amazing!

It can be done, though some pieces would have to be replaced. However, I said "Pretty much anyone could build their own version of the Balrog",

and that means the movie version. Like, building the creature from the movie, not a replica of the LEGO game version.

Of course, it would be cool to have that Balrog, but one thing that already proves they'd have to alter the design at least a bit is the fire whip.

It all also seems to be more like a thing MOCers would build, and I very much doubt it was designed like this for a set. But, like I said, it would be cool to have a Balrog nonetheless,

though not at the expense of key characters such as Faramir, Denethor, Éowyn, the Witch-king, Gondorian soldiers, etc. or even a new Mordor (or Morannon) orc from my part.

Edited January 22, 2014 by General Magma

[Alcarin]

It can be done, though some pieces would have to be replaced. However, I said "Pretty much anyone could build their own version of the Balrog",

and that means the movie version. Of course, it would be cool to have that Balrog, but one thing that already proves they'd have to alter the design at least a bit is the fire whip.

It all also seems to be more like a thing MOCers would build, and I very much doubt it was designed like this for a set. But, like I said, it would be cool to have a Balrog nonetheless,

though not at the expense of key characters such as Faramir, Denethor, Éowyn, the Witch-king, Gondorian soldiers, etc. or even a new Mordor (or Morannon) orc from my part.

Whats wrong with the whip? I seen MOCs using the same ''whip'' flames build..... sure its not action friendly... but display friendly it sure is....

I love Gondor but i am not sure how important is Denethor.... And i am also not sure if i would prefer a set that only features new Denethor over Balrog..... Sure i would trade Balrog for a set like uruk-hai Army just in Gondor style

[MKJoshA]

No they just did not name the Ent Treebeard to make it ''army buildish''

If they make A treebeard set then that is the biggest waste of a set... another SAME Ent for like slightly different head to waste a set....

Totally agree! I don't think they'll make a treebeard set. The ent they made already looks close enough. And all we would get minifig wise would be minifigs we already have.

[Admiral Khan]

I just hope we get Gondor soldiers, Eowyn, Galadriel, and Faramir. I'm not too concerned about getting a Denethor. Balrog would be cool too, which I think they would do although the Mines of Moria set is already one set that is relatively in the same area. I don't think they will make a Treebeard set. If they did it would probably be a $20 with Merry and Pippin. Osgiliath and Minis Tirith is what I'm hoping for the most.

Personally, I would rather want a Olephant than Balrog. I don't think Lego will quit LOTR until they make a Gondor soldier, Eowyn, Faramir, and Galadriel. They are all too often mentioned and seen in the movies and books.

[Robert_88]

As AFOL's it's easy for us to say things like Rivendell should have been the large flagship set in this wave. I think 20 years ago, this might have been the case. But today, Lego almost always has big conflict set with lots of play features as the flagship. In my perfect world, Rivendell would have been a 700-1000 piece set, the $29.99 set would have gone to a different scene (Amon Hen, Galadriel's mirror, etc), and the pirate ship ambush would be non-existent. But alas, Lego's marketing team has a different idea about how to make the company money, hence we have what they presented us in wave 2.

Of course, every set could be bigger ;) Unfortunately Council of Elrond seems to be too small for AFOLs and not exiting enough for kids.

I think the sets that we still need are similar to the ones that obviously sold very well (battle scenes and army builders)

[BrickBob Studpants]

@Alcarin: The technique used on the whip is considered "illegal" by TLG since the connection is not intended and very VERY unstable Besides, the new version of the flame piece can't be connected like that anymore since the little pins have been removed

[Deathleech]

Yeah the council of Elrond is nice, not thrilling but nice. I think it's way too small and doesn't do Rivendell justice. A much larger set showing off more of the beautiful architecture and not just providing a sitting area would have given the set more playability. It,could have easily been the largest set of the wave and I think done well.

It's not selling well because it has a horrible play feature, no enemies to fight, and the unique characters in it are ones kids don't care about (as opposed to us adults who LOVE Arwen and Elrond). I see the set regularly priced at $25, down from the MSRP $30 and it's STILL one of the only sets filling up shelves at stores. I think Lothlorien would hold largely the same fate unless they built a cool tree house. Even then it's going to be expensive to get a good tree with platform and there will be few play features and no enemies to battle. It would have more secondary characters kids don't really care about so it would probably do poorly as well.

What no no no, the gondorian shield is not that shape. The roman soldier shield would be much better for gondor despite the stud.

Well there is this shield which is close to the tear drop shape, but I agree a more square shield seems to be what's used most and would be the best option (plus it's more unique and looks cool!). The Roman shield has that stupid stud in the middle and the right angle edges so I think this shield might be a better option (of course with the correct print).

As for Treebeard vs Balrog, Alcarin is right. We already have the Ent from Orthanc which looks close enough to Treebeard and can be MOC'd with a handful of pieces to match him exactly. What do we have for the Balrog to build off of? Nothing. Neither could offer more than one new print or mold on a figure so that's irrelevant. Treebeard could have Grishnak and the Balrog could have Moria Orcs with helms.

Edited January 22, 2014 by Deathleech

[deskp]

Well there is this shield which is close to the tear drop shape

Thats from the 2. age....

[Alcarin]

afaik 3rd age shields for Gondor are those:

[Fives]

The Gondor shield should be a new mold. It needs to be a longer shield (like the troll shields from Castle), but the handle needs to be placed vertically rather than horizontally. That's how the shields are held in the films.

Then again, knowing that LEGO is sometimes cheap on new molds (at least where they feel they can be), then the Roman shield is the best choice. Sure, there's a stupid stud in the middle of the shield, but the shape matches the film best.

[General Magma]

Whats wrong with the whip? I seen MOCs using the same ''whip'' flames build..... sure its not action friendly... but display friendly it sure is....

I love Gondor but i am not sure how important is Denethor.... And i am also not sure if i would prefer a set that only features new Denethor over Balrog..... Sure i would trade Balrog for a set like uruk-hai Army just in Gondor style

Well, I'm pretty sure that wouldn't use that whip design for a set. Sure, there have been MOCs using it, but that doesn't mean all connections are appropriate or "legal" for sets in the eyes of LEGO.

Denethor would be good to have, but the other figures stated are more important.