Future The Hobbit Sets?

[Deathleech]

Honestly, Lego should lay out some basic rules for the BO5A wave (so they can assume it's their last Hobbit wave, and anything after that is gravy)

-Any battle pack must include all 3 armies of Good, with armored Elves and Iron Hills Dwarves prioritized, and an equal or greater number of Evil characters.

-At least 1 battle pack must be produced, preferably two, each of a smaller denomination (4 figures in a $20, perhaps).

-Large beasts should be included at some point - Eagles, Giant Bats, Beorn Superbear-form, Wargs - but they must never take precedence over infantry. A Warg or Eagle should not replace a slot that could be taken by a new-styled Dol Guldur Armored Orc or an Armored Mirkwood Elf.

-Battle packs should not be tainted with unique characters, and if they are, they should be easily swappable characters (like Eomer in UHA, NOT Thranduil in MEA). That captain of the guard dude from Laketown would be ideal - an excuse for a named character who can just be reused as an officer-class Esgaroth Warrior. Bolg is an example of a non-ideal character, he is too distinct and would have a unique mold that would preclude him from being reusable.

Based on the past two "army builder" offerings we have gotten for the LotR/Hobbit, I think it's safe to assume Lego will just give us 1 unique minifigure, 5 grunts, and 1 large molded creature (horse, warg, etc.). What should the large creature be though? A warg seems redundant since we just got it in an army builder and got two in the first wave. I highly doubt Lego would do yet another warg. An eagle seems plausible, it's been used a few times in the LotR sets but hasn't appeared in any Hobbit sets yet. It may be a bit large for a $30 set though? I don't recall any horses being at the Bo5A so I doubt we will get one of them. The bats at the Bo5A were just normal sized ones, more like a cloud so I doubt Lego would do anything with them but who knows since PJ may be changing them.

Personally I would rather not see ANY large molded creature and instead would prefer 7 or 8 minigifures in the $30 set. Give us 3 orcs, 1 armored elf, 1 armored dwarf, 1 Laketown soldier, and maybe an orc general? I really have mixed feelings on the Bo5A army builder. I feel like there are too many races to try and fit into a single $30 set. Just to get one of each puts you at 4 minifigures and that's not even including a unique character. Plus there should be more evil characters than good, based on the book numbers and the offerings so far, but that's hard to do when there are 3 different good races in a 6 figure set.

[greeklad97]

After Seeing the movie I think I've finall come to like DGA and DGB! My guess is that TLG used the resource metarial given to them at the time to complete sets that at the time being, would make sense. Which is waht the problem is with designing sets on upcoming films! My guess is that Gandalf will remain trapped, only to be saved in the beginning of TABA after the orcs leave to go to the Battle of Five Armies, by either Radagast who decided that maybe Gandlaf would need his help after all, or Beorn, which makes the most sense if you look at the design of the set...? What do you guys think?

[legofreak86]

I think that as radagast went off to fetch the white council that we'll see him return with Saruman, Galadriel and Elrond come and rescue Gandalf then I reckon as Gandalf appears to be using rad's staff that in the movie universe rad will die in the escape/battle. Then whilst Gandalf goes to erebor to warn them about impending orc doom the council will attempt to send the necromancer packing! So I could definitely see another Dol Guldur based set in the cards. Radagast could fetch beorn as well I guess! Then whilst the wizards fight the dark one, the battle of the five armies starts with the film crisscrossing between the two. Plus sir Christopher lee said he was in this one a lot and involved lots of fighting and swordplay at Dol Guldur so who knows I guess.. Plus the Lego designers even said that DGB was meant to b a courtyard and we saw loads of those Gandalf walking around. I think it perfectly captures the feel of ruined courtyard. I think after seeing the movie that It is the courtyard where azog ambushes him. I'm seeing it again tomorrow in IMAX so I'll be able to see it larger and in more detail.

AS many have already said I think that it is a combo of rad's visit in AUJ and Gandalf's visit in DOS minifigure wise explaining rad's inclusion and the AUJ design necromancer.

Edited December 20, 2013 by legofreak86

[legofreak86]

Just had a great idea of a set they could do next year as an exclusive to bridge the gap between DOS and TABA. read at our own risk, possible spoilers may follow for those who have not seen the desolation of Smaug.

OK I warned you...

Dwarf forge confrontation £79.99: Includes one of the forges they tried to lure Smaug into lighting in the film. A Very large moulded dragon Smaug with printing to represent details of the body. The forge: a large cylindrical vat with light brick to represent heated gold and a crank with a chain to push the switch to activate light brick. A tall platform/tower with steps and a doorway at the top plus a lever. Pulling the lever makes Gold translucent cylinders rain down on Smaug. Finally also includes a huge railed gate which like with moria has an explode feature and is much larger than any dwarf.

Minifigures:

Bilbo: http://www.praguepos...ation-smaug.jpg

Thorin: http://media-cache-a...7fcd3319960.jpg

Balin, dwalin , bifur: http://latimesheroco...g_282.jpg?w=600 and bombur.

This would make a good excusive set before the there and back again

Edited December 20, 2013 by legofreak86

[BrickBob Studpants]

@legofreak86: Sounds like a great idea In the movies, we basically have three scenes with Smaug; the scene with Bilbo, one with the dwarves and one that takes place in Lake-town. The set you're suggesting is the most realistic out of the three since it includes something to build apart from Smaug itself and features something entirely new (a set based on the Lake-town attack would inevitably be a bit of a retread). Besides, a scene based on the conversation with Smaug would be unrealistic because of all the gold they would have to include. There are lots of massive pillars too of course, but the scene wouldn't be recognizable unless you have tons of gold coins and other treasure to go along with them (and expecting that would be silly, even MOCers have a hard time piling up the amounts of gold coins such a set would require ). Minifig-wise it would make sense too, so I really hope TLG is cooking up something along these lines The price you're suggesting is a bit on the low side though, such a set would have to be D2C and thus wouldn't feature new moulds, which a higher price tag might make up for by having Smaug in form of a massive brick-build creature

Edited December 20, 2013 by Lego-Freak

[legofreak86]

Good point! Brick built or moulded I hope we see him in some form or other. You are correct it would probs be closer to £120!

[Darth Caedus]

Personally I would rather not see ANY large molded creature and instead would prefer 7 or 8 minigifures in the $30 set. Give us 3 orcs, 1 armored elf, 1 armored dwarf, 1 Laketown soldier, and maybe an orc general?

This BO5A is all about quantity. I suppose the Orc General could be dropped for Lego's coveted 'at least one unique character' but it should be someone as generic as possible (captain of the guard, a Company dwarf in Erebor armor that can be reused, etc.) The Orcs must NOT be the Hunter Orcs from the TDOS wave, that would ruin it - we need genuine DG armored Orcs (which can substitute for Mordor Orcs, to be honest). Lego should make one new Orc Helm mold that can be used for both DG and Morgul/Mordor Orcs and then use it an LOTR Wave 3 as well as a Hobbit Wave 3.

[Mutant Orc]

I would buy that suggested set with Smaug in it!

Edited December 20, 2013 by Mutant Orc

[Faefrost]

Based on the past two "army builder" offerings we have gotten for the LotR/Hobbit, I think it's safe to assume Lego will just give us 1 unique minifigure, 5 grunts, and 1 large molded creature (horse, warg, etc.). What should the large creature be though? A warg seems redundant since we just got it in an army builder and got two in the first wave. I highly doubt Lego would do yet another warg. An eagle seems plausible, it's been used a few times in the LotR sets but hasn't appeared in any Hobbit sets yet. It may be a bit large for a $30 set though? I don't recall any horses being at the Bo5A so I doubt we will get one of them. The bats at the Bo5A were just normal sized ones, more like a cloud so I doubt Lego would do anything with them but who knows since PJ may be changing them.

A rideable Stag for the Elves? We see Thranduil mounted in TUJ, maybe BoFA has Elf Cavalry? I doubt anyone would complain about that? Or we could see an armored horse.

I think that as radagast went off to fetch the white council that we'll see him return with Saruman, Galadriel and Elrond come and rescue Gandalf then I reckon as Gandalf appears to be using rad's staff that in the movie universe rad will die in the escape/battle. Then whilst Gandalf goes to erebor to warn them about impending orc doom the council will attempt to send the necromancer packing! So I could definitely see another Dol Guldur based set in the cards. Radagast could fetch beorn as well I guess! Then whilst the wizards fight the dark one, the battle of the five armies starts with the film crisscrossing between the two. Plus sir Christopher lee said he was in this one a lot and involved lots of fighting and swordplay at Dol Guldur so who knows I guess.. Plus the Lego designers even said that DGB was meant to b a courtyard and we saw loads of those Gandalf walking around. I think it perfectly captures the feel of ruined courtyard. I think after seeing the movie that It is the courtyard where azog ambushes him. I'm seeing it again tomorrow in IMAX so I'll be able to see it larger and in more detail.

AS many have already said I think that it is a combo of rad's visit in AUJ and Gandalf's visit in DOS minifigure wise explaining rad's inclusion and the AUJ design necromancer.

Isn't Radagast mentioned in FotR? I thought there was some indication that Gandalf met with him before heading to Orthanc? I don't think Gandalf is using Radagasts staff in FotR. The two are similar, but I think it just reflects their owners more laid back make it up as we go tendencies of just using any old gnarled tree branch. The staves are a visual cue to tell you the nature of the Wizard you are looking at. "Is he a great Wizard? Or more like you?" Sort of thing.

And yeah DGB is quite clearly a combo use of the setting. Mixing up TUJ's visit by Radagast and Gandalf's later capture. Lego does this all the time and honestly I have no problem with it. I think being able to recreate multiple scenes with a set makes for great play value.

[Deathleech]

The set you're suggesting is the most realistic out of the three since it includes something to build apart from Smaug itself and features something entirely new (a set based on the Lake-town attack would inevitably be a bit of a retread).

I dunno, I could see Lego making the tower with the bolt thrower on it. That way you can add it to your existing Lake-town set to make it slightly bigger, the tower wouldn't use too many bricks since it's just tall and slim, and of course you get flick fire missiles which actually make sense here and Lego LOVES to do. The scene would also cover Smaug's demise. Smaug is going to be a pretty big build alone so the scenery can't take up too many bricks to recreate it. The only issue is the minifigures, I am not really sure who Lego could include besides the Lake-town captain as exclusive who haven't already been done.

This BO5A is all about quantity. I suppose the Orc General could be dropped for Lego's coveted 'at least one unique character' but it should be someone as generic as possible (captain of the guard, a Company dwarf in Erebor armor that can be reused, etc.)

Ya, I would prefer all generic soldiers and no unique characters. I have a feeling Lego is going to do something like give us 1 minifigure for each race and then the unique character will be someone like Dain or the Lake-town Captain. This would be fine if there weren't 3 good races Lego needs to cover. 3 races plus a unique character for them means 4 good vs 2 bad if they stick to 6 minifigures. That's going to suck considering in the books and films there are always WAY more orcs than good guys. Right now we have no good way of army building any orcs besides Uruk-hai without getting more good troops than bad, unless your BL them. This makes me REALLY wish Mirkwood Elf Army would of been done a little better. We already had the Mirkwood Elf polybag so did we really need 3 more hooded elves in that set? Lego should of done Thranduil, 1-2 hooded or ear elves, 1 in armor, and 2-3 orcs imo. That way they could of left a slot open in a Bo5A builder and included more orcs or dwarves or one of the severely under represented races.

A rideable Stag for the Elves? We see Thranduil mounted in TUJ, maybe BoFA has Elf Cavalry? I doubt anyone would complain about that? Or we could see an armored horse.

Ya, I was thinking of that. I have no idea if the Stag will how up again at the Bo5A. I know in the book they didn't exist. Horses were also never mentioned in the book so I have no idea if they will be in the film or not. Of all the possibilites (warg, horse, eagle), I think a Stag sounds the best. I would totally be fine with an extra minifigure or two instead of a large molded creature though.

[Alcarin]

And yeah DGB is quite clearly a combo use of the setting. Mixing up TUJ's visit by Radagast and Gandalf's later capture. Lego does this all the time and honestly I have no problem with it. I think being able to recreate multiple scenes with a set makes for great play value.

yeah it makes for a great ''play value'' but very poor display value....

When i display my sets I want the focused on 1 event like the attack on helm's Deep or arrival of Eomer at helm's Deep..... not depicting 2 scenes in the same time...

And yes you could say that I can just remove figs depicting another scene but that means Ill have to BL or ebay even MORE figs to make it even remotely populated.

[Blazej_Holen]

yeah it makes for a great ''play value'' but very poor display value....

When i display my sets I want the focused on 1 event like the attack on helm's Deep or arrival of Eomer at helm's Deep..... not depicting 2 scenes in the same time...

And yes you could say that I can just remove figs depicting another scene but that means Ill have to BL or ebay even MORE figs to make it even remotely populated.

Maybe the main aim is not focused for AFOLS :) Its mainly for play... :)

[legofreak86]

Faefrost: In the movie universe rad isn't mentioned or referred to. Sylvester McCoy (Radagast) has already stated several times that he is using Gandalf's staff from FOTR. Plus in a lot of the pickup filming for TABA Gandalf appears to be holding radagast staff with radagast nowhere in sight. Then remember what happened in DOS:

Sauron threw Gandalf into a wall and his staff appeared to be disintegrating

So he would need a new one and it makes sense that he would use the one he has in LOTR and as rad's actor has said the two staffs are one in the same and that this would be elaborated on later in the hobbit trilogy.My guess: Azog or sauron kills radagast during the escape and Gandalf who is defenceless picks up rad's staff and escapes. Then rad's death would be the perfect spark to convince saruman and the council to attack Dol Guldur to avenge radagast. Just a prediction

I would wager we will get one more Dol Guldur based set for there and back again as it has been implied that TABA will resolve the Dol Guldur plotline.

Edited December 20, 2013 by legofreak86

[Deathleech]

Isn't Radagast mentioned in FotR? I thought there was some indication that Gandalf met with him before heading to Orthanc?

That's just in the book. In the book Gandalf is lured to Orthanc by Saruman, who uses Radagast. Radagast also alerts the eagles of Gandalf's capture at the top of the tower, not a moth like in the films. In the FotR legofreak86 is right, there is no mention of Radagast whatsoever.

And yeah DGB is quite clearly a combo use of the setting. Mixing up TUJ's visit by Radagast and Gandalf's later capture. Lego does this all the time and honestly I have no problem with it. I think being able to recreate multiple scenes with a set makes for great play value.

Radagast seems like he would of made a lot more sense in the DGA set (based on what we actually see in the film, not the cut scenes). That could of freed up a slot in DGB for Bolg and left the TABA to give us Beorn in human and bear form. Of course Lego probably had no idea until it was too late. I am sure we will still get Bolg in the third wave so no biggie I guess.

[deskp]

suprise suprise the ironhills dwarf soldier was seen in the latest production vlog that came out today.

This is the dwarf soldier Lego will be making. (unless they make some horrible mistake)

Here is wahat the 5 armies looks like armor wise.

Edited December 20, 2013 by deskp

[Faefrost]

suprise suprise the ironhills dwarf soldier was seen in the latest production vlog that came out today.

This is the dwarf soldier Lego will be making. (unless they make some horrible mistake)

Here is wahat the 5 armies looks like armor wise.

That doesn't look too far removed from Gimli's Lego helmet. I wouldn't be surprised if we just see a recolor of that.

[deskp]

That doesn't look too far removed from Gimli's Lego helmet. I wouldn't be surprised if we just see a recolor of that.

The erebor helmet looks mroe like Gimlis helmet, Lego better make a new mold, This helmet got a specific mowhawk thing. and only line across the helmet one way where gimli has crossing lines. Gimlis helmet is rounded where this is all flat angles. Gimlis helmet has some chainmail looking stuff, this one does not at all.

I also think theres a possebility lego will reuse it.

But they really need to make a new mold. the last Hobbit wave I feel need to impress people. I'm not sure wrongly reused molds and reused prints is what people care for.

Edited December 20, 2013 by deskp

[Darth Caedus]

Honestly, if they remade Gimli's mold in that slate/gold combination and gave the dwarves a new shoulder armor mold like the gundabad orcs, I'd be fine with that. If it's a choice between that and either an armored Mirkwood Elf helm or a new Orc helm, I'll take either of those over an Iron Hills helm.

[Ardelon]

I would think a BoFA army builder set wouldn't include Lakemen, as they are already available in one set and a polybag. That should leave us with armored Elves, armored Dwarves, and armored Orcs, hopefully two of each.

Not sure about what moulded creature they could include. There is no horse-based cavalry in the battle (at least in the books), wargs and eagles have already been done in two sets, and a megaloceros/deer/elk/whatever would mean another Thranduil, which I wouldn't particularly like (though I *would* like a megaloceros...).

Actually, I would best appreciate Dain as a named character, giving us a mohawk option in addition to a Dwarf with a helm. I assume the helm would be just a recolor of Gimli's helm; one less mould to make and it's not like we'll get armies of both Erebor and Iron Hills Dwarves that we would need to differentiate between them. Besides, the Morranon Orc got an Uruk helmet and all three Rohirrim share one helmet mould.

But another reason for Dain would be that we could get a boar as the moulded creature - if the rumors of him riding a boar are true...

[Darth Caedus]

I would think a BoFA army builder set wouldn't include Lakemen, as they are already available in one set and a polybag. That should leave us with armored Elves, armored Dwarves, and armored Orcs, hopefully two of each.

Not sure about what moulded creature they could include. There is no horse-based cavalry in the battle (at least in the books), wargs and eagles have already been done in two sets, and a megaloceros/deer/elk/whatever would mean another Thranduil, which I wouldn't particularly like (though I *would* like a megaloceros...).

Actually, I would best appreciate Dain as a named character, giving us a mohawk option in addition to a Dwarf with a helm. I assume the helm would be just a recolor of Gimli's helm; one less mould to make and it's not like we'll get armies of both Erebor and Iron Hills Dwarves that we would need to differentiate between them. Besides, the Morranon Orc got an Uruk helmet and all three Rohirrim share one helmet mould.

But another reason for Dain would be that we could get a boar as the moulded creature - if the rumors of him riding a boar are true...

Polybag is a rare promotional item, so we could definitely still get one. And Lego loves to make the most out of molds while they still can. As has been discussed previously, any $30 BO5A pack should have an equality or plurality of Dol Guldur Orcs included.

Lego should really just make a 'Good' and 'Evil' armybuilder like Star Wars, which would be far more practical.

$14.99 The Free Peoples of the North: 1x Lakeman, 1x Iron Hills Dwarf, 1x Armored MEA, 1x beast (Eagle, Elk, or Boar, whatever's appropriate)

$14.99 The Necromancer's Army: 2x Dol Guldur Orcs 1x Goblintown Goblin (if they go to the BO5A, if not, just another DG Orc), 1x beast (warg, bat swarm, whatever)

[Alcarin]

Polybag is a rare promotional item, so we could definitely still get one. And Lego loves to make the most out of molds while they still can. As has been discussed previously, any $30 BO5A pack should have an equality or plurality of Dol Guldur Orcs included.

Lego should really just make a 'Good' and 'Evil' armybuilder like Star Wars, which would be far more practical.

$14.99 The Free Peoples of the North: 1x Lakeman, 1x Iron Hills Dwarf, 1x Armored MEA, 1x beast (Eagle, Elk, or Boar, whatever's appropriate)

$14.99 The Necromancer's Army: 2x Dol Guldur Orcs 1x Goblintown Goblin (if they go to the BO5A, if not, just another DG Orc), 1x beast (warg, bat swarm, whatever)

Then we all wake up from a group sleep and dreaming :)

[Alfadas]

What "building" would be in those battle packs? Something that combines? If so, I say yes!

[Dragonfire]

I think 2 of the new sets should be:

£20 set including Bolg, Dol Guldur Orc (non-armoured) and Armoured Mirkwood Elf. (and a stag possibly)

£30 set including Dain, Iron Hills Dwarf Warrior, Orc Commander (with armour) and 3 Orcs.

[greeny]

My dream wave:

£10: Battle of the Five Armies Orc battle pack: 2 orcs, 2 dwarves. The 'building' of the set is a small rock that can explode.

£10: Battle of the Five Armies Elf battle pack: 2 armored elves, 2 goblins. The set comes with a small catapult and an Eagle.

£30: Bolg's last stand: Fili (in dwarven amour), Kili (in amour), Bolg, 1 generic orc, 1 generic dwarf. It is a small stone cliff that can collapse.

£70: Smaug the Tremendous: Bilbo, Thorin, Balin, Gloin, Oin. The set consists of a giant, brick built Smaug! It also comes with a tiny gold pile that contains the Arkenstone.

[Deathleech]

Polybag is a rare promotional item, so we could definitely still get one. And Lego loves to make the most out of molds while they still can. As has been discussed previously, any $30 BO5A pack should have an equality or plurality of Dol Guldur Orcs included.

Right, plus polybags are hit and miss in a lot of countries. Some countries never even get them.

If you look at one of last year's polybags it was the Mirkwood Elf, yet we still got a Mirkwood Elf Army set this year which was loaded with elves. Sure they have different prints, but I think they were meant to basically be the same soldier because they share the same hood. Lego just didn't have the proper scout print yet and substituted it with the lime green "servant" torso instead. Lego already has a Lake-town Guard poly with the proper print and helm mold so I could see them re-using it quite easily. The only thing is... will the guards actually be the same combatants as the humans who fight at the Bo5A? deskp posted a pic and it looked more like the rag tag band of survivors fof Lake-town fighting than the actual guards (who I doubt are very large in number anyways).

Lego should really just make a 'Good' and 'Evil' armybuilder like Star Wars, which would be far more practical.

$14.99 The Free Peoples of the North: 1x Lakeman, 1x Iron Hills Dwarf, 1x Armored MEA, 1x beast (Eagle, Elk, or Boar, whatever's appropriate)

$14.99 The Necromancer's Army: 2x Dol Guldur Orcs 1x Goblintown Goblin (if they go to the BO5A, if not, just another DG Orc), 1x beast (warg, bat swarm, whatever)

This would be ideal. It would allow people to more easily pick and choose which figures they get instead of being stuck with too many of one faction, or having to turn to eBay/BL to fill their ranks. Not everyone wants the same things. Some people might want a lot of elves for MOCs even though they arn't even into LotR. Some people might have no interest in anything but orcs, while others may want a mix with numbers closely matching the films (like myself). If Lego created 2 separate small army builders like this I would probably buy 10-20 of the good one and like 20-40 of the evil depending on the actual specifics. As it stands now, if they do a Bo5A army builder like UHA/MEA, I will probably only buy 10-20 total and just BL all the extra orcs I want. That's $450-900 if they broke them into two small sets vs only $300-600 if they do it like they have been. That's a $150-300 difference from me, before sales. Unfortunately this is probably just a dream like Alcarin points out.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Deathleech