LEGO Hobbit 2014

[Deathleech]

I believe Orc Forge was shown off with the rest of the wave one LotR sets at some toy fair? I remember that's where we originally saw five figures in the set instead of just the four we ended up getting (one extra Mordor Orc with hair). I would say the chances of a store exclusive showing up for this last Hobbit wave are zilch to none. Polybags are probably 50/50 and I would guess an orc soldier is much more likely than a dwarf soldier.

At any rate, I love how people are complaining about the lack of new molds in the sets and Lego skimping out on them. They also are complaining about the line ending, but then they turn around and say they won't buy any sets unless they are heavily discounted at 30% or more. I doubt Lego is getting lots of repeat orders on sets when stores have to sell them for 30%+ just to move them.

[Faefrost]

And in one simple page of posts you guys once again stir yourselves up into the over reaching expectation of a Bolg bonus figure of some sort...

Would it be nice to have? Sure. Is it even remotely likely? Heck no. Promo figs will most likely be stuff like Bilbo variants. Say old Bilbo or Mithril armored Bilbo. Generally a hero or the main villain. Something with a named recognizable actor behind the,. The only ones that will even mildly deviate from that are the S@H polybag giveaways. And I would not count on one of those for this apparently last wave. We might get one, but I suspect the odds are slightly better at a Las Vegas airport slot machine.

^ When do we know if there is a store exclusive? Weren't there any leaks of the orc forge beforehand? I can remember that they orginally planned to have one more minifig in that set before it came out.

Isn't it a bit too optimistic to hope for a store exclusive? Wouldn't we've heard something about it by now?

It is way to optimistic for a store exclusive, on the simple basis that it is likely that the stores don't really want one in this theme. They did not do real well with the ones they had in prior waves. TRU is still trying to clearance out Barrel Escape sets. The demographics for the Middle Earth themes don't work great for the regular big box stores. They tend to skew a little older. This does well in the dedicated Lego stores, but not as well on a Shelf at Target. Remember stores have to buy their exclusives. (Or there is some sort of complex marketing kick back system involving the stores, TLG and the IP holders.) the stores probably want exclusives in other themes this cycle.

And store Polybags are 99% of the time built around figs or fig parts that they have excess of. We do not see new characters or prints in them typically. The exceptions are the special exclusive promo figs that S@H will give with a set $ purchase.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Faefrost

[Slobey]

Lego have been victims of the change in movie schedule and character design from the start. hence the Yazneg debacle and not getting a proper Azog figure till wave 2. I dare say that if we got an Azog in wave 1 and 2, Lego MAY have given us Bolg in this wave.

The other thing to consider is that kids who want to start buying Hobbit sets now will need main characters to make their purchase worthwhile. I doubt 99% of non-AFOL parents would be aware you can buy figures on eBay.

Lego design and market sets primarily to children, they may pay us lip-service but they are Lego's bread and butter.

[Shroffy123]

This is the quote from Meiko on Brickset when they pulled the images. I bolded where they directly quoted the LEGO request..

I don't have any special knowledge but remember the license holder had requested the embargo until then. LEGO normally promotes their stuff well in advance and even does not mind if images are shared provided that they are not stamped confidential.

But I did not guess the Oct 15 date. That is the date that LEGO is bound to in their contract. They could always wait longer than that. Obviously they got WB's permission when they shared Smaug's Lair early.

I am sorry but that quote seems pure BS. How can they release a lune on Oct 15 without ever promoting it??????

[BrickBob Studpants]

Would it be nice to have? Sure. Is it even remotely likely? Heck no. Promo figs will most likely be stuff like Bilbo variants. Say old Bilbo or Mithril armored Bilbo. Generally a hero or the main villain. Something with a named recognizable actor behind the,. The only ones that will even mildly deviate from that are the S@H polybag giveaways. And I would not count on one of those for this apparently last wave. We might get one, but I suspect the odds are slightly better at a Las Vegas airport slot machine.

I know, I know, I'm setting myself up for a huge disappointment The main reason however I'm even going as far as expecting a s@h promo - something I'd never do in any other instance since these are amazingly unpredictable (or would anyone have ever guessed Darth Revan, flashback Shredder or Martian Manhunter?) - is this: There hasn't been a single case (that I know of) where a minifig that was promised in a catalogue hasn't been released afterwards. Quinlas Vos, the Tactical Droid and Ree-Yees were all supposed to be released in certain sets, only to be left out in the final version and utilized in another set the following year. This would be the first instance where a minifig was dropped completely (and I'd argue that Bolg is way more important than any of the above mentioned). The main difference of course is that these three are from SW, and we know that SW gets premium treatment by TLG (at least compared to other licenses)

[kevkipo]

Is there a way I can see preliminary pictures of 79014? I like The Lonely Mountain and Witch-King Battle...Laketown kind of looks incomplete, and tBotFA i can not judge, because image is not full...

And PS. Do you think those pictures are just test print for package? What if someone build something stupid, with original minifigures, and then tested it? I mean, its 0.01% possible, but it is.

Not possible, These we're official

I'd like to point out some apparently good news: the version of Bard we get in the BoFA set looks like the Comic-Con version.

Take a look at the Bard we already have. His coat is the same color as his legs. If you look closely at him in the new mini fig lineup, his coat looks to be a different color, possibly dark blue.

Sorry but this was already pointed out 3 pages back , There's no problem in sharing it again tho

[BrickBob Studpants]

Not possible, These we're official

Speaking of official:

More pictures here: http://brickset.com/sets/79018-1

I especially like the minifig box, Smaug staring at a screaming Bilbo looks absolutely hilarious

[Trunkbass]

That box makes me want to buy this set even more ^^

[Lynx]

That box makes me want to buy this set even more ^^

Yes, the backdrop with Erebor pillars, green/ gold contrast and pile of gold make this set appear so much larger and prettier than it really is.

[Black Numenorean]

I will buy it anyways. I collect the licence.

[BrickBob Studpants]

And now that we can see the banner at the top of the box in all its glory, it becomes pretty obvious that the building in 79017 has more to offer than one might think I mean, that picture of 79017 reaches its limit right next to Erebor (projected onto this picture it would mean that we couldn't even see the entire throne structure).

[sahidko]

Yeah the box looks great but most probably because there is no price tag on it.

[BrickBob Studpants]

More high-res pictures of 79018 (up to 4000x3000 pixels!) can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hothbricks/with/14747195960/

Can't wait to get my hands on it

[Alcarin]

Well I will buy this Erebor set for the box art and keep it sealed, after its 30% off.... thats a sealed deal.....

Will skip the 2 middle sets and try to get 2-3 of Witch king set once discounted a bit :)

[Black Numenorean]

If this wave is the end of lego hobbit, we will have to get an UCS hobbit set: maybe an Erebor Gate witch include dwarfs army,

like the lotr wave.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Black Numenorean

[kevkipo]

And now that we can see the banner at the top of the box in all its glory, it becomes pretty obvious that the building in 79017 has more to offer than one might think I mean, that picture of 79017 reaches its limit right next to Erebor (projected onto this picture it would mean that we couldn't even see the entire throne structure).

Wow indeed , seems like 79017 has a lot more to offer!

Fantastic Box Art thanks for sharing, i expect the other sets pretty soon

[BrickBob Studpants]

If this wave is the end of lego hobbit, we will have to get an UCS hobbit set: maybe an Erebor Gate witch include dwarfs army,

like the lotr wave.

Not a bad idea actually, although D2C sets tend to be less conflict-based than regular sets, even within licensed themes (Orthanc, Diagon Alley, Ewok Village etc., all of which do have conflict potential, albeit just barely). The question is whether the Erebor Gates are iconic enough to warrant a D2C set, which I somewhat doubt A set like that also wouldn't be too useful minifig-wise either since it couldn't introduce new molds which most of the desired remaining minifigs would require On top of that, I think Marvel is in desperate need of a D2C set and might get the chance next January before the Hobbit does

Edit: I've compared the box pictures once more and I can't help but feel that there might be another creature in 79017, given how much of the set isn't visible. I know that the eagle in the minifig box implies that there aren't any other creatures, but consider this: maybe it's not just some eagle, maybe it's Gwaihir himself which would explain why he's pictured there with the other characters. I mean, do you really expect to see the word "Eagle" beneath it? If the minifig box is reserved for characters only (which Smaug and Gwaihir undoubtedly are), there's still a chance we might get another creature Obviously not Beorn though, but a warg or a ram or something

Edited August 16, 2014 by Lego-Freak

[phanstasm]

Thanks for the hi-res link, Lego-Freak! I really like the set, I really want Smaug, but it's really expensive. I'll wait until a sale.

I guess, as others have said, with some alternate heads and Fantasy castle dwarf helmets the minifigures in here are okay to use as a dwarf army. I think the dark silver arms would have to be swapped out for light silver to better match the Fantasy Castle helmets, but I really do hate popping arms off of minifigures.

Do we know what the play feature is underneath the throne? If you look at this picture you can see a black knob sticking out behind the throne.

https://www.flickr.c...in/photostream/

Also, I know it won't happen, but I would love Lego Shop at Home to offer a separate playmat to go along with this set. It could have lots of gold printed on it (like the floor in the box art). That would go a long way to improving the actual set for play and display. They've already made two(?) playmats for the Friends line, I believe.

Edited August 16, 2014 by phanstasm

[just2good]

More high-res pictures of 79018 (up to 4000x3000 pixels!) can be found here: https://www.flickr.c...th/14747195960/

Can't wait to get my hands on it

That box is pretttty sexy, but I think the DoS waves still has the best box designs.

[kevkipo]

but a warg or a ram or something

OMG, OMG, Oh my god oh my god oh god, Ram yes please!

Hug me Lego-Freak

[BrickBob Studpants]

@kevkipo: *hug*

I just wish we could have gotten a better picture of that set, now we're pretty much guaranteed to not receive any more till October 15th Still better than not getting any at all though

[Ceroknight]

That box art is so deceiving, one third of it is covered by Smaug!

[Kez]

That box makes me want to buy the Smaug set, oh if only I understood how much pain my wallet is in right now with all of these new releases...

[Black Numenorean]

That box makes me want to buy the Smaug set, oh if only I understood how much pain my wallet is in right now with all of these new releases...

Come on, go buying it ^^. It will be the end of the wave and after that, maybe no lotr/hobbit wave ever!

[Alfadas]

Do we know what the play feature is underneath the throne? If you look at this picture you can see a black knob sticking out behind the throne.

https://www.flickr.c...in/photostream/

Probably something like exploding stairs orso. Couldn't think of much else.

The boxart looks great, but 120 or 130 or whatever euros is just too expansive for me . I do want this set very badly, even I didn't really like it at first. Now to wait for the other sets get decent pics.