LEGO LotR - general discussion

[Ardelon]

I would simply find it weird if there was no LotR. Does TLG plan their sets in advance?

If so, why would they pick up the license knowing they would leave out such a crucial part as Gondor?

If not, wouldn't they commit to a license only after thorough research that they would be able to keep it profitable long enough to produce enough of a balanced variety of sets?

If it was just a filler line between the Hobbit releases, wouldn't they produce a more balanced assortment of sets in the two existing waves?

In any case, I can't believe the other possibility that the designers couldn't come up with great Gondor sets that would fit all the product requirements of price, playability, etc.

I guess there is a certain precedent in PotC, where TLG didn't produce any sets based on the EITC or the 3rd film. Maybe Gondor isn't as crucial as we think it is...

[The_Chosen_1]

Haven't posted to this thread in a while, due to lack of news and conversation going in circles. It hit me today that Lego LOTR may be finished, and that's a crying shame. I'll forever be grateful that we got LOTR sets to begin with, but the line just seems so utterly.....incomplete.

[Faefrost]

I would simply find it weird if there was no LotR. Does TLG plan their sets in advance?

If so, why would they pick up the license knowing they would leave out such a crucial part as Gondor?

If not, wouldn't they commit to a license only after thorough research that they would be able to keep it profitable long enough to produce enough of a balanced variety of sets?

If it was just a filler line between the Hobbit releases, wouldn't they produce a more balanced assortment of sets in the two existing waves?

In any case, I can't believe the other possibility that the designers couldn't come up with great Gondor sets that would fit all the product requirements of price, playability, etc.

I guess there is a certain precedent in PotC, where TLG didn't produce any sets based on the EITC or the 3rd film. Maybe Gondor isn't as crucial as we think it is...

There are a lot of things that we don't know. Key among them is length of the licenses. Is it 3 year? 5 year? I think we can safely guess it isn't 10 year, we have only ever seen that with HP and SW. I think the only other ones that they would strongly consider that for (assuming they have not already arranged them) are the Super Heroes.

As for why not do 3 LotR waves? My gut suspicion is the constantly evolving and changing Hobbit movies. They don't want the two sub licenses directly competing. Rather they want them at best coming and going on opposite cycles to enhance each other. But the Hobbit will always take priority as it has direct movie tie ins, which always guarantee a bigger return (well ok excepting maybe PoP, and granted LR Lego did better than LR the movie. )

So the change from 2 hobbit movies to three and changing release dates meant they had to change plans to maximize the movie tie ins. Plus while probably on the positive side of the equation, none of the LotR or Hobbit stuff has really been driving the crowds the way some of their other properties do.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Faefrost

[atreyu2112]

Whatever the reasons, the LotR part of the license had such a KILLER first wave and such a weak 2nd wave. None of the sets from wave 2 blew me away the way wave 1 did. Wave 2 feels more like an after thought wave.

The whole collection feels so incomplete without Gondor, Fell Beast/WKOA, the Balrog & Treebeard. A good analogy would be getting Star Wars sets without Endor, the Rancor, A-wing, Boba Fett & Slave 1... but getting Prince Xizor, his Virago and Yoda's house...

It makes absolutely no sense.

Like I've said before, I really hope we get one more LotR wave that addresses the gaping holes in the collection.

[Faefrost]

Whatever the reasons, the LotR part of the license had such a KILLER first wave and such a weak 2nd wave. None of the sets from wave 2 blew me away the way wave 1 did. Wave 2 feels more like an after thought wave.

The whole collection feels so incomplete without Gondor, Fell Beast/WKOA, the Balrog & Treebeard. A good analogy would be getting Star Wars sets without Endor, the Rancor, A-wing, Boba Fett & Slave 1... but getting Prince Xizor, his Virago and Yoda's house...

It makes absolutely no sense.

Like I've said before, I really hope we get one more LotR wave that addresses the gaping holes in the collection.

Have you ever looked at the order that Star Wars sets and minifigs were released? some stuff took a surprisingly long time to appear. I think Han, Leia and the Millennium Falcon did not appear until around the 3rd wave.

[Robert_88]

A few months ago I was convinced that we will get a third wave but I am not anymore.

The movie split and the fact that we didn't get anything from Gondor yet is the only reason why I am still slightly optimistic.

[Alcarin]

There are a lot of things that we don't know. Key among them is length of the licenses. Is it 3 year? 5 year? I think we can safely guess it isn't 10 year, we have only ever seen that with HP and SW. I think the only other ones that they would strongly consider that for (assuming they have not already arranged them) are the Super Heroes.

As for why not do 3 LotR waves? My gut suspicion is the constantly evolving and changing Hobbit movies. They don't want the two sub licenses directly competing. Rather they want them at best coming and going on opposite cycles to enhance each other. But the Hobbit will always take priority as it has direct movie tie ins, which always guarantee a bigger return (well ok excepting maybe PoP, and granted LR Lego did better than LR the movie. )

So the change from 2 hobbit movies to three and changing release dates meant they had to change plans to maximize the movie tie ins. Plus while probably on the positive side of the equation, none of the LotR or Hobbit stuff has really been driving the crowds the way some of their other properties do.

We shall see.... I think 1st sign can be 2014 sets from Hobbit and their advertisement on the back... if not then 101% will be list of sets for 2015....i

f there is no LOTR there its 100% done

[Blakstone]

I agree Alcarin. Those are the two things I am waiting for to say whether LotR has already ended.

[The_Chosen_1]

Yep, I think that will be the thing to watch out for. No LOTR ad in TBOFA sets = no more Lego LOTR. :-(

[Dorayaki]

I assume that this should be posted here. This week LEGO Ideas features a LOTR project in the homepage.

https://ideas.lego.com/projects/45646

Usually fan projects that use ongoing licensed themes are not allowed (or not suggested, at least) since they could make profit conflicts with the later products. Does this move mean that the staff is very sure about that this scene wouldn't be used in the next wave of LOTR sets, or actually the next wave wouldn't "even" appear? Hope that it's just my overthinking.

Edited May 14, 2014 by Dorayaki

[Lynx]

I really don't know what to make of this. I wish LEGO would communicate better with its customer/ fan base and just let us know whether the line has ended.

[Faefrost]

I assume that this should be posted here. This week LEGO Ideas features a LOTR project in the homepage.

https://ideas.lego.com/projects/45646

Usually fan projects that use ongoing licensed themes are not allowed (or not suggested, at least) since they could make profit conflicts with the later products. Does this move mean that the staff is very sure about that this scene wouldn't be used in the next wave of LOTR sets, or actually the next wave wouldn't "even" appear? Hope that it's just my overthinking.

You are overthinking I think. I think it is simply a designer or staffer showcasing a project that they like. Pre review they make no determination regarding already existing licenses they have. The only thing they screen pre review, which would also apply to fan favorites, is impossible licenses. IP that is already licensed or outright owned by competitors.

I really don't know what to make of this. I wish LEGO would communicate better with its customer/ fan base and just let us know whether the line has ended.

They still have a forthcoming Hobbit wave. Saying that they do not plan more LotR would negatively impact that. They will keep silent either way until next year.

[bachamn]

Regardless of the implications that's a nice (albeit small) execution of Henneth Annun. Not that they'd ever make a Madril figure; might as well ask for Mim the Petty-Dwarf :D

[Faefrost]

One other thing to keep in mind, especially if you have been procrastinating about any particular LotR or Hobbit sets. The third Hobbit movie may cause a situation similar to the 8th Harry Potter film. Where the last Lego waves was limited in part because the theme had a very hard end date. Normally TLG keeps a healthy buffer between the last released wave of a theme and the end of contract date for the license. In the case of HP they tacked on an extra movie, which then ate up TLGs buffer. Such that the last HP wave didn't really get its full life cycle on the shelves, and it all disappeared suddenly on the end of contract date. If TLG does not announce a new LotR wave with the next Hobbit release, get whatever you really want. Because I don't think sets like Orthanc will then make it past Spring.

[SirBlake]

So how does that work? The contract/license expires so retail shelves get cleared. What happens to the product? Surely it doesn't get destroyed. Where does it go?

[Faefrost]

So how does that work? The contract/license expires so retail shelves get cleared. What happens to the product? Surely it doesn't get destroyed. Where does it go?

It might end up destroyed or pulled back into production, broken down and returned to inventory. It is most likely that TLG can no longer make or sell new product, but product that is already in the retail channel (in other words has left Lego's control and is in the retailers warehouses) may remain until sold or clearance'd out. This is sort of why they try and give enough lead time on any license to insure that waves have sufficient shelf life remaining. So if we are nearing the end of a given license contract, such as LotR they will not put out one last wave just to finish it up, or one last massive hurrah, etc. Why make a pricey set that can only sit on shelves for a few months?

So if the license is nearing its end the key item to grab will be Orthanc, as that is a D2C that has mainly not left TLG's direct channels, so the set would vanish instantly. Other sets would probably be quickly blown out from chains like TRU etc. (although note how long some PoP sets sat on TRU shelves.)

[HawkLord]

Found some LOTR sets on sale at Fred Meyers last Saturday - Pirate Ship at $69 and Black Gate at $41.

[Faefrost]

Found some LOTR sets on sale at Fred Meyers last Saturday - Pirate Ship at $69 and Black Gate at $41.

That is quite a deal. In spite of the negativity from the more hardcore Tolkien fans, the Pirate Ship really is a fantastic set, especially at that price. And is a great starting point for all sorts of nautical themed MOCs. It's just disappointing that it isn't a more iconic LotE scene. But it still remains one of Lego's better ships, and by far their best "fantasy" ship easily besting the Viking ship and the Fantasy Era Troll and Skeleton ships. (Yeah I do loves me that Troll ship. But the detailing on the LotR one is marvelous.)

$41 is a decent price for the black gate. I confess to not being as fond of that set, as to me it is essentially a minifig set that comes with a bunch of black bricks. Mouth of Sauron and horse, Gondor livery Aragorn, Gandalf the White and the Eagle are why you get that set. (And I'm not overly fond of those Eagles, preferring to use the creator ones in my displays.) the gate itself is truly a boring black slab.

[HawkLord]

^^^ Agreed. If I didn't already have a ton of black bricks for fantasy castle builds I would have grabbed another Black Gate. The ship I passed on before and probably will continue to do so for the same kind of reasons listed above.

[atreyu2112]

The last set I have to get to complete my LotR collection is the Black Gate, but I need 2 to make a true gate ... so I've been waiting for a deal like that but there are no Fred Meyers out here on Long Island.

[Cammo]

Someone posted this on the official Lego FB-page. Is it a MOC or what?

[Robert_88]

Yes. It's great but unfortunately a MOC.

[Risgrynsgrot]

It's a bit bulky.

Anyhow. What's the latest sign that LOTR isn't dead? Because it looks to me that it's 99 % dead. I guess that if we don't get any hints in the next Hobbit sets we can confirm it's dead?

[LegoThomas]

@ Cammo

This looks like an moc in a lego store.

Though... Still hoping for a third wave...

[atreyu2112]

That looks awesome!