LEGO Hobbit 2014

[SMC]

You can't have a £60 army builder it would need to have 12 figs and 2 molded some things just to be as good as the other ones we have seen in this line.

[Deathleech]

You can't have a £60 army builder it would need to have 12 figs and 2 molded some things just to be as good as the other ones we have seen in this line.

Right, and even those aren't anywhere near as good as the Star Wars ones where you get 4 minifigures for $12.99.

[Darth Caedus]

You can't have a £60 army builder it would need to have 12 figs and 2 molded some things just to be as good as the other ones we have seen in this line.

If Lego knew how to maximize their profits, every wave would've had a 12.99 set with 3 or 4 armybuilder minifigs in it. But at this point I'll take what I can get.

Although 12 figs and 2 molded beasts would be the ideal $60 armybuilder, with no more than 2 unique characters, that's not gonna happen. Worst case scenario it's a Black Gate 2.0 with a few uniques and a couple terrible minions, or an LTC with lots of cool characters but only 1 armybuilder fig. I'm hoping for a solid 8 figs, with only 2 uniques, and at least one molded beast.

[Deathleech]

If Lego knew how to maximize their profits, every wave would've had a 12.99 set with 3 or 4 armybuilder minifigs in it. But at this point I'll take what I can get.

Yup, the potential was definitely there. The army builders would have been SOO easy for Lego to do for both Middle-Earth themes and I am sure fans would of eaten them up. Much more so than they did Gandalf Arrives or Riddles for the Ring, that's for sure. The LotR movies had such huge epic battles and distinct armies it just seems like such a waste to pass up the opportunity. LotR could of had 2 battle packs per wave and had one for Rohan, Gondor, Mordor, Uruk-hai, Easterlings, Haradrim, Ithilien Rangers, and Elves. A couple of these could be combined like the Haradrim and Easterlings, or Ithilien Rangers and Gondor Soldiers if we only get three waves.

For the Hobbit Lego could of given us Iron Hill Dwarves, Mirkwood Elves, Lake-town men, Goblin Town goblins, Gundabad Orcs, and whatever else they see fit. I really wonder what Lego's reasoning is for NOT doing proper battle packs, or at the very least doing an army builder each wave? Even their $30 versions seem to be big hits? I know people have speculated it's a licensing issue, but I would just love to know for sure. I wish the designers or someone else could tell us why there are no battle packs and also why there has been no Gondor stuff at all so far? Those are my two biggest questions...

Edited February 4, 2014 by Deathleech

[SandMirror38]

oh man.

How much I would enjoy those and how much my wallet would cry.

Would people like it if I designed sets of what Lego SHOULD have done? So BP such and such?

[kevkipo]

Yup, the potential was definitely there. The army builders would have been SOO easy for Lego to do for both Middle-Earth themes and I am sure fans would of eaten them up. Much more so than they did Gandalf Arrives or Riddles for the Ring, that's for sure. The LotR movies had such huge epic battles and distinct armies it just seems like such a waste to pass up the opportunity. LotR could of had 2 battle packs per wave and had one for Rohan, Gondor, Mordor, Uruk-hai, Easterlings, Haradrim, Ithilien Rangers, and Elves. A couple of these could be combined like the Haradrim and Easterlings, or Ithilien Rangers and Gondor Soldiers if we only get three waves.

For the Hobbit Lego could of given us Iron Hill Dwarves, Mirkwood Elves, Lake-town men, Goblin Town goblins, Gundabad Orcs, and whatever else they see fit. I really wonder what Lego's reasoning is for NOT doing proper battle packs, or at the very least doing an army builder each wave? Even their $30 versions seem to be big hits? I know people have speculated it's a licensing issue, but I would just love to know for sure. I wish the designers or someone else could tell us why there are no battle packs and also why there has been no Gondor stuff at all so far? Those are my two biggest questions...

Figs for the BO5A pack sound good, i hope they will add those figs!

like 5 dwarves, and 1 elf

EDIT: E-mail came in!

Dear Kevin,

Thanks for getting in touch with us.

Unfortunately we don't have an exact list of sets that are going to be shown at the New York Toy Fair. Since a lot of them are prototypes or preproduction sets, we aren't really told about sets that will be coming up, just in case anything does happen, and things maybe get pushed back. We don't want to ruin surprises or possibly give out wrong information, so we aren't told about sets until they are officially released.

Unless the sets are only supposed to be released in Europe, I would say that the same sets will be shown in New York. Again, I don't know for sure though.

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to give much clear information, but I would just keep an eye or an ear out for when we might officially announce new sets.

Thanks again for getting in touch. We're always pleased to receive feedback! If you could take a moment to complete a four question survey by going to the link below, it will help us make sure we are providing the best customer service to you.

My comment on this E-mail: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Thank you

Edited February 4, 2014 by kevkipo

[Robert_88]

What did you expect? ;)

[kevkipo]

What did you expect? ;)

Yup :P

[Mahtion]

As long as the Elf is a Mirkwood Soldier with a helmet you can have 10 dwarves for all I care in BoFA despite it not being a very accurate ratio.

[Deathleech]

We don't want to ruin surprises or possibly give out wrong information, so we aren't told about sets until they are officially released.

Not that it is much surprise, but this rep said flat out the Lego representatives aren't given any info about upcoming waves. Looks like most those old reports where they said the LotR line was ending or getting more sets were just reps blowing smoke up people's bums?

[MrErikku]

Not that it is much surprise, but this rep said flat out the Lego representatives aren't given any info about upcoming waves. Looks like most those old reports where they said the LotR line was ending or getting more sets were just reps blowing smoke up people's bums?

I actually find that quite relieving. It's not very surprising, but with all the speculation about everything in either this thread, or the future lotr one, it's certainly nice to have a definite response, from TLG no less, about something.

[kevkipo]

As long as the Elf is a Mirkwood Soldier with a helmet you can have 10 dwarves for all I care in BoFA despite it not being a very accurate ratio.

Probably not sorry, i mean they look cool i must say (for elves ) but if they will be in Bo5A set?

Wouldn't they also be in the Mirkwood army set?

Or do you think they can reuse the molds?

[deskp]

Probably not sorry, i mean they look cool i must say (for elves ) but if they will be in Bo5A set?

Wouldn't they also be in the Mirkwood army set?

No, that was a DOS set.

[h22chen]

Thanks Kevkipo for sharing the email with us.

As long as the Elf is a Mirkwood Soldier with a helmet you can have 10 dwarves for all I care in BoFA despite it not being a very accurate ratio.

I agree, those Elf Mirkwood Soldiers with Helmets are pretty good (the dwarves will be trade fodder for me though).

[kevkipo]

No, that was a DOS set.

I know but, Because the waves are split?

if it is split they came up with all the sets for DOS and TABA at the same time

That means also designs! so also Mirkwood Soldiers! Cause if they had the design then, they could have added it in Mirkwood Army?

Thanks Kevkipo for sharing the email with us.

I agree, those Elf Mirkwood Soldiers with Helmets are pretty good (the dwarves will be trade fodder for me though).

No problem , Just copy and paste the bunch!

But with "fodder" do you mean you will like the dwarves more?

Cause then... BUDDY

Edited February 5, 2014 by kevkipo

[kevkipo]

What in the world of Gandalf in The Lego movie!

[Faefrost]

Right, and even those aren't anywhere near as good as the Star Wars ones where you get 4 minifigures for $12.99.

They have said from the begining, each license defines "construction toy" differently and very specifically. The terms of the LotR and Hobbit license do not permit them to do a Star Wars type Battlepack. Hence why they must do the larger $30 Army Builder sets with more substantial builds.

[Alcarin]

They have said from the begining, each license defines "construction toy" differently and very specifically. The terms of the LotR and Hobbit license do not permit them to do a Star Wars type Battlepack. Hence why they must do the larger $30 Army Builder sets with more substantial builds.

True... but i doubt license permits the amount of sets in a wave :P They could always do 5 30$ sets IF they wanted :P and I bet AFOLs would make sales go nuts :D

[Darth Punk]

True... but i doubt license permits the amount of sets in a wave :P They could always do 5 30$ sets IF they wanted :P and I bet AFOLs would make sales go nuts :D

Actually agreements could include covering certain price points and numbers of sets. It is worth mentioning that agreements for licenses could include anything that the two parties agree to and could be very different depending on the license holders. The idea that there are some imaginary limits to what license agreements can contain is not in the realm of reality.

Having every set at the same price neglects the sectors who would pay more or less for a product. Like it has been mentioned many times AFOL only make up a small percentage of sales for most of TLG lines so they are always going to direct the sets toward their main customer, children.

[Deathleech]

They have said from the begining, each license defines "construction toy" differently and very specifically. The terms of the LotR and Hobbit license do not permit them to do a Star Wars type Battlepack. Hence why they must do the larger $30 Army Builder sets with more substantial builds.

Right.. but there are literally no major toy companies doing LotR action figures right now. On the other hand Hasbro does Star Wars action figures and they are one of their main lines, yet Lego was able to work out a license deal to still make Star Wars army builders. I know not all companies are the same and I am sure Lego paid handsomely to have the rights to make those SW battle packs, but I just can't imagine it would of cost them a whole lot, or been much trouble to do the same for LotR. You would think considering how big a role the huge armies play in the movie, that would of been top of Lego's priorities when they struck their license agreement.

[Alcarin]

Actually agreements could include covering certain price points and numbers of sets. It is worth mentioning that agreements for licenses could include anything that the two parties agree to and could be very different depending on the license holders. The idea that there are some imaginary limits to what license agreements can contain is not in the realm of reality.

Having every set at the same price neglects the sectors who would pay more or less for a product. Like it has been mentioned many times AFOL only make up a small percentage of sales for most of TLG lines so they are always going to direct the sets toward their main customer, children.

As I said I DOUBT it includes that kind of stuff....

i seriously doubt that the licenser would tell LEGO I want you to do 7 sets than 4 ..... And it needs to have a Pirate Ship and they must cost XX, XY, YY, YZ, ZZ etc...

[Darth Punk]

Personally I don't see armies as the main focus of TLoR. Nor do I think that TLG sees armies in general a necessary part of their business. People assume that TLG is the driving force of Star Wars battle packs when it could easily be the license holder. These battle packs only target a very small market, which is why even after Christmas the shelves are usually still full of them.

Children are not asking for multi packs of the same set of figures, they would most likely find that very boring and very limiting in terms of imaginative play.

As a lover of Tolkien's work, don't people realize one of the main reason he wrote TLoR was to show that war is very bad. It involves pain and suffering often times for needless reasons and the only real result of war is death and destruction. War is not to be glorified nor celebrated, and those like Tolkien who have have been know this first hand. That was Tolkiens message to the world.

[Darth Punk]

As I said I DOUBT it includes that kind of stuff....

i seriously doubt that the licenser would tell LEGO I want you to do 7 sets than 4 ..... And it needs to have a Pirate Ship and they must cost XX, XY, YY, YZ, ZZ etc...

Well some might, like Disney. Not to mention that TLG when attempting to gain the license puts forth a plan of set numbers and price points, even if the license holder cares or not. If someone came to me wanting to license a product I,would want to know what they plan to do with it. Because in the end as the license holder I would want to maintain and protect what is mine. The price someone is,going to pay is going to be based on how they use said license. I do this in my business all the time.

[Deathleech]

Personally I don't see armies as the main focus of TLoR. Nor do I think that TLG sees armies in general a necessary part of their business. People assume that TLG is the driving force of Star Wars battle packs when it could easily be the license holder. These battle packs only target a very small market, which is why even after Christmas the shelves are usually still full of them.

Children are not asking for multi packs of the same set of figures, they would most likely find that very boring and very limiting in terms of imaginative play.

I would beg to differ. Obviously we don't have any specific sales figures, but if the battle packs sell as bad as you claim why does Lego continually churn out four of them in their waves? If they were bad sellers wouldn't Lego only offer one or two max in a wave?

[Alcarin]

Well some might, like Disney. Not to mention that TLG when attempting to gain the license puts forth a plan of set numbers and price points, even if the license holder cares or not. If someone came to me wanting to license a product I,would want to know what they plan to do with it. Because in the end as the license holder I would want to maintain and protect what is mine. The price someone is,going to pay is going to be based on how they use said license. I do this in my business all the time.

Anyone sane would want to know what they will do with it.... But if protecting what is yours makes sales worse then whats the point?

I am yet to see a license holder tell someone operating with License to make less cash especially if the original license owner has in the contract that he gets % from sales too....

Its counterproductive logic for anyone...